Having spent the previous 7 years at one of Scotland’s largest and best known law firms, Biggart Baillie, Stuart took the plunge and started his own firm in August 2010.
His purpose was not to compete with more traditional firms who offer a complete range of legal services but, rather, to focus on providing specialist advice in an exclusive number of areas which affect most people at some point in their lives. As such, Stuart deals with Conveyancing, Wills, Confirmation (Probate), Trusts, Inheritance Tax planning, Powers of Attorney, Guardianship Orders, Care of the Elderly and Charities.
In order to alleviate some of the difficulties which tend to arise as a result of charging clients on the basis on an hourly rate, Stuart was also keen to ensure that all work be carried out on a “fixed fee” basis which is agreed with the client in advance of any work being carried out.
Although based mainly in Glasgow, one of Stuart’s primary motives in setting up his own firm was to offer more flexibility to clients in terms of where and when they meet. As such, Stuart now tends to visit clients at their own home or place of business (anywhere from Berwick to Lerwick) and at a time which best suits them.
Stuart is a Tutor at Glasgow University, teaching postgraduate law students all they need to know about Wills and other exciting topics that take his fancy. He assumes that this is going fairly well as no-one from the University has asked him to leave yet.
Stuart believes in “practical” corporate social responsibility and, away from the office, he is a lay member of the Childrens Panel, a local authority initiative which aims to help vulnerable young people who are at risk or in trouble. He is uncertain whether he has helped to change the lives of any of the hundreds of young people he has met in the past 5 years but he does know that the experience of being a panel member has changed his own life.
Stuart is also a Trustee of a Rwandan based Charity, “Aid for Education”, which provides financial and practical assistance to ophans and young children, enabling many of them to attend school where they had previously been unable to afford to pay for their education.
In his spare time (all 10 minutes of it!) Stuart likes spending time with his wife Fiona, his family and friends, and is a committed member of his local Church.
He also plays the guitar. Badly.
