INNES & MACKAY: 150 years of dedication to the Highland community
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Dedication to the Highland community. Development of local people. Excellence in delivery of legal and property services.
These were the founding principles of Innes & Mackay when the firm was established in 1874 by solicitors Charles Innes and William Mackay.
Now, 150 years later, they are still core values within the business.
Innes & Mackay is renowned across the north of Scotland for delivering top quality services in property law, family law, wills, power of attorney, guardianship and estate agency. And it does this by ensuring its team is highly skilled in specialised fields that benefit clients.
As the firm enters its 150th year, Innes & Mackay is celebrating a number of very special achievements that will further strengthen its service provision for anyone seeking property or legal advice in the Highlands.
Eve Cooper – Private Client Solicitor
Many believe that the only way to become a solicitor is through university education only. However, there is an alternative route – one which Eve has embraced over the last seven years.
Joining the private client department in 2016 after studying history at the University of Aberdeen, she quickly signed up to this alternative route with the Law Society of Scotland.
In December 2023, Eve qualified as a solicitor – strengthening her position in the private client department, where she assists clients with advice on wills, powers of attorney, executries and guardianships.
In addition to her studies, Eve became a lecturer as well as a tutor on the Diploma for Professional Legal Practice at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen – helping others follow the path she took into the industry.
She said: “A lot of prople do law degrees but don’t go into the legal profession, but I want to encourage people into my area of law, and to give back to the industry that has given me so much.
“By using real world examples, and by learning from practicing solicitors, students in universities or on the alternative route can get a real feel for what it’s like to work in the legal sector in Scotland, and be better prepared for the job ahead.”
Not one to rest on her laurels, though, Eve is now embarking on a new qualification with the Society of Trust and Executry Practitioners (STEP) – and has just passed her first exam.
Founded in 1991, STEP aims to strengthen professional standards within the field – and by completing her examinations, Eve will become one of only 500 specialists in the UK to appear on its register of practitioners.
Yve MacLean – Certified Practitioner in Trauma Awareness
Yve joined Innes & Mackay in 2017, following completion of her studies at the University of Strathclyde. She qualified as a solicitor in 2019 and has specialised in family law – covering all aspects of separation, divorce, child contact, grandparents’ rights, adoption and surrogacy.
In a specialised legal field where every case must be addressed with understanding and compassion, identification of trauma and the way it impacts lives – along with practices that support recovery – is vital to providing the service Innes & Mackay’s clients need.
Therefore, studying with The Law Society of Scotland in conjunction with the Scottish Government, Yve has become a certified practitioner in trauma awareness, allowing her to better support clients through difficult times.
Heather Garvock – The Society of Law Accountants in Scotland
The Society of Law Accountants in Scotland (SOLAS) is an organisation that supports and educates people employed by Scottish law firms in their accountancy departments.
Having recently joined Innes & Mackay’s accountancy department, Heather has since passed a module in cashroom accounting and administration – allowing her to progress on her way to become a law accountant.
The role of law accountant has been a recognised qualification with SOLAS since 1910 – almost as long as Innes & Mackay has been providing stellar services to clients across the Highlands.
Laura Cormack – Certified Practitioner in Data Protection
In an industry where privacy is paramount, Innes & Mackay operates rigorous data security procedures.
But continuous professional development has always been important in the firm, which is why director Laura has become a certified practitioner in data protection with the Law Society of Scotland and Training Qualification UK.
This training has strengthened the knowledge within the firm about data protection, allowing Laura to support the team and clients alike, ensuring compliance with all rules and regulations within and outwith the UK.
For more information about Innes & Mackay and its services, visit www.innesmackay.co.uk
