Joe MacFarlane is a Senior Solicitor in our M&A team.
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Advice for the way we live our lives.
Our business and work lives are busy and complicated. It can often feel stressful and, well, a bit messy.
When family and business overlap, managing family life and the dynamics of power and succession across generations can be complex and emotive – particularly when property ownership and overseas interests are involved.
Our expert teams remove the complexity, providing joined-up advice to ensure your business and personal affairs are in order – now and in the future.
Burness Paull is known globally as the go-to Scottish law firm.
The ambitions of our clients go far beyond our home jurisdictions of Scotland and the wider UK, and we support them wherever they do business around the world.
Guide: Doing Business in the UK
24/09/2024
This guide is aimed at businesses who are looking to expand or invest into the UK.
Legal insights
Keep up to date with news and analysis of the latest legal developments, written by our experts.
Summary of Employment Rights Bill implementation
19/08/2025
Focussing on the four key areas of the Employment Rights Bill
Events
Stay informed about the latest changes in your industry with webinars, conferences and in-person events delivered by our legal experts.
Data and the digital economy: Managing risk and making the most of opportunities
30/09/2025 - Edinburgh
Data is everywhere – and the ways in which we’re collecting, processing and utilising it are constantly evolving, while regulation and governance best practice struggles to keep up.
Topics
Stay on top of key topics and major regulatory changes that may impact you or your industry.
Welcome to Burness Paull.
We are a full-service, independent Scottish law firm focused on employing and working with the best people to deliver a consistently high-quality service to clients.
Clients want the very best legal advice, and they get it from us. But they also want that advice delivered by people with their feet on the ground who understand the context in which their recommendations are being applied.
Human and high-performing
Proudly based in Scotland, we work with leading organisations across the UK and internationally.
Clients tell us they appreciate the breadth of our legal expertise, the depth of our talent and, crucially, the down-to-earth personality of our people.
It is our single most important point of difference – a human and high-performing culture that permeates all that we do.
Delivering real change for our clients, people and communities
The desire to constantly seek opportunities to improve the client experience and always find a ‘better way’ is deeply embedded in the DNA of Burness Paull.
Its roots lie in the energy and curiosity of our people and, as we’ve grown, we’ve supported that spirit with an enabling structure and process.
Responsible business lies at the heart of our decision-making.
We believe that this, coupled with the human and high-performing partnerships we create with each other and our clients, is fundamental to our near and long-term success, both as a leading law firm and as a responsible employer.
Firm news
Catch up on the latest updates and announcements from Burness Paull.
The Burness Paull Foundation supports Team Scotland and Team England in the Homeless World Cup 2025
22/08/2025
Running from 23 – 30 August in Rådhusplassen, Oslo’s City Hall Square, the tournament will unite more than 500 players from 48 countries in a global celebration of football and friendship.
We believe you’re not a tiny cog in a giant machine.
At the heart of our firm are a talented group of individuals. Whether you’re a lawyer or a business services professional, we need more individuals who share what we believe in to help us take the next step.
We are always looking for people with different stories who share our ambition. We want people to be who they are, not who they think we want them to be.
Vacancies
Do you want to be part of a team that’s market leading, not only in Scotland but globally?
Looking for a workplace that will value your curiosity, passion, and desire to grow?
If so, and you’re seeking colleagues who are high-achieving but human too, then you’ll be right at home here at Burness Paull.
We offer a range of law programmes, including work experience for high school students, summer placements for university students, and legal traineeships for law graduates looking to kickstart their career.
Don't settle for standard, help us set new ones.
The right attitude and a healthy dose of ambition are essential for anyone looking to join us.
Just as important is personality. We’re looking for people who are attracted to our hard-working, team culture with a willingness to learn and develop.
Vacancies
Do you want to be part of a team that’s market leading, not only in Scotland but globally?
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