Anderson Strathern strengthens immigration practice with new partner

Independent Scottish law firm Anderson Strathern has recently welcomed top immigration lawyer Jamie Kerr as a partner, marking a significant expansion in its legal talent pool. This move comes alongside the appointment of 20 new trainee and newly qualified solicitors across the firm this autumn. Jamie brings a wealth of experience, having advised businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs on corporate immigration and international workforce strategy. He is dual-qualified in both Scotland and England & Wales and has consistently been top-ranked by Chambers for over a decade, currently holding a Band 1 status for Immigration. Furthermore, he has been recognised as a Leading Partner in The Legal 500.

In his new role, Jamie will operate across Anderson Strathern’s five offices, collaborating closely with Director Mark Templeton, who has been instrumental in nurturing the firm's immigration practice over the past four years. Jamie Kerr remarked, “Scottish businesses are competing internationally for people, skills and investment, and immigration policy has a direct impact on their ability to do that. If businesses in Scotland are to grow and compete, access to international talent must be part of that conversation.”

Carole Tomlinson, Chair at Anderson Strathern, expressed her enthusiasm for Jamie’s appointment, stating, “Jamie is exactly the kind of person we want to bring into the firm. He is highly regarded in his field, has a strong track record and shares our ambition for the practice. His appointment strengthens our capability in this area and gives us the opportunity to build further on the strong work already being led by Mark as demand for this specialist advice continues to grow.”

Jamie’s arrival complements a broader investment in the firm’s human resources. This September, Anderson Strathern will onboard an additional 10 new trainees while also retaining all 10 of its current trainees as newly qualified solicitors, with placements in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Carole Tomlinson further stated, “Growth for us is not solely connected to senior appointments. We have some brilliant people coming through the firm and seeing them develop and build their careers with us matters just as much as bringing in experienced lawyers. We want Anderson Strathern to be somewhere people can learn, progress and see a long-term future for themselves.”

This latest round of appointments follows a series of senior hires at Anderson Strathern this year, including Sarah-Jane Macdonald in Dispute Resolution and Dawn MacPherson in Commercial Real Estate.