Independent Scottish legal firm Lindsays has made three major hires to its Rural team.

Linda Tinson, Lorna McKay and Sarah Taylor join the firm as a Consultant, Partner and Director respectively as its client base across the rural business sector continues to grow.

The trio have worked together for many years, the last three of which have been at Burness Paull and previously at Ledingham Chalmers.

Their arrivals have been hailed as significant in the strengthening of Lindsays’ Rural – Land and Business department amid increasing demand for specialist support in the sector.

They have been announced just days after the promotion of Lewis Crofts from Director to Partner in the same team and weeks after the arrival of Kirsty Graham as a Senior Associate, also from Burness Paull.

Lorna and Sarah’s arrival will also see Rural – Land and Business lawyers based at Lindsays’ Glasgow offices for the first time.

Managing Partner Andrew Diamond said: “Lindsays has a hard-earned reputation for the high quality of our service to rural clients. These key strategic appointments support our ambitions to take that to a new level as a leading firm advising the sector.

“Linda, Lorna and Sarah are fantastic additions to our team. I am very much looking forward to working with them.”

Linda, a former vice-president of the Royal Highland Agricultural Society who was a partner in a farming business for many years, is widely recognised as a leading farming and rural advisor in Scotland, with vast experience across the sector’s full spectrum of legal matters.

She said: “With all of the changes in the rural landscape, it is vital that clients are supported in every aspect of their business and their inevitable succession journey.

“So we are delighted to be joining Lindsays, whose rural and agricultural clients are at the heart of the firm and from where we can continue to support this vital industry.”

Lorna’s appointment at Lindsays marks a career milestone – by becoming a Partner.

A Law Society of Scotland-accredited specialist in Agricultural Law, she has particular expertise in agricultural holdings matters, as well as vast experience in advising farmers, estate owners and other rural enterprises in areas including partnership, succession, renewables and forestry.

Lorna, who grew up on a dairy farm in Argyllshire, said: “Lindsays feels like the perfect fit for me – and for the people we work with.

“The firm places a real value on building relationships with clients. We genuinely care about our clients and want to help people – and it’s very people-orientated here. That was a real draw for me.”

Sarah, meanwhile, steps up to Director from the Senior Associate role she held at her former firm.

Her experience includes large rural commercial transactions, including the acquisition and sales of farms, estates, forestry and sporting enterprises, as well as advising on succession, diversification, planning, tenancy and environmental matters.

Lindsays advises farmers, crofters and estate owners across Scotland. The full-service firm’s Rural clients are also able to benefit from experts in the likes of Wills, Inheritance Tax planning and Powers of Attorney.

Leanne Gordon, Partner and Head of Rural – Land and Business at Lindsays, said: “Linda, Lorna and Sarah are really exciting additions to our team, adding further experience, insight and strength.

“As rural businesses become increasingly complex – operating in an ever-evolving environment – the tailored, client-centred support that we provide has never been needed more.

“Our new additions – alongside other promotions over the past year – mean we are better placed than ever to meet the growing demand we are seeing for advice.”

Four new Partners have been appointed by Lindsays so far this year. Commercial Property lawyer Stephanie Nichol joined from Balfour and Manson in January, as did Private Client lawyer Rob McNab, also from Burness Paull.