Thompsons Solicitors recent success as Law Firm of the Year was achieved through three of the firm’s fundamental and guiding principles: developing and investing in it’s staff; consolidating existing client bases and constantly improving services to those clients; and growth into new areas through winning new clients.

Those three principles are evident again in recent announcements made by the firm.

Thompsons are delighted to announce the assumption of Tom Marshall and Laura Blane as Partners.  They also announce that their Aberdeen operation is being located to new premises at 42-44 King Street, Aberdeen AB24 5TJ.

Tom Marshall qualified as a Solicitor in 1984 and has concentrated his whole career upon civil litigation.  He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbiters.  In 1995 he qualified as a Solicitor Advocate with extended rights of audience in the Court of Session, House of Lords and Privy Council. 

Tom exercises those rights of audience regularly. He has vast experience in appearing before both the Outer House and the Inner House at the Court of Session having been involved in many high profile cases. 

Tom Marshall has been appointed to head up the Firm’s team of Solicitor Advocates.  His role is  important to the solicitor advocate service provided to existing clients and Tom will develop advocacy skills training for staff.

Laura Blane has been with Thompsons since she commenced her traineeship in 2002.  She has specialised in asbestos related lung disease and other serious injury work since her career began.  Laura has been involved in many leading cases including Murray’s Executrix v Greenock Dockyard Company in which the Inner House of the Court of Session set the benchmark for damages in fatal cases; and Lambie v Toffolo Jackson, an important Inner House authority on time bar.

Laura’s appointment reflects her extremely hard work over the years and the high regard with which she is held within the legal community.  With her new appointment, Laura will supervise and run the Firm’s asbestos team on a day to day basis.

Frank Maguire and Syd Smith, Joint Senior Partners, said “We are delighted with these two appointments.  Laura and Tom are taking up two key roles within the partnership.  They are both high calibre lawyers who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the clients we act for.  The Firm has competed very strongly over the last twelve months both in terms of finance and winning new clients.  With these appointments we are sure that the Firm will go from strength to strength.”