Roland is a partner in our real estate division, specialising in hotels, student accommodation and high-end commercial property work.

He has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of commercial real estate, including sales, purchases, development, property financing, options, leases and hotel management and franchise agreements, acting for clients including institutions, funders, developers, tenants and operators.  In particular, he has acted on a number of significant high profile Scottish hotel and purpose-built student accommodation transactions.

He has been a Scottish qualified lawyer since 1999, and has also been qualified in English law for many years.

A development director at an international institutional investor has said that "Roland is the epitome of what we look for in a lawyer – he provides sharp, concise commercial advice.” 

A standout individual.

Legal 500

A notable expert in the hospitality market.

Legal 500

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Roland Smith

Burness Paull bolsters partner ranks with hire of hotels and student accommodation specialist

07/10/2026

Burness Paull has hired hotels and student accommodation specialist Roland Smyth as a partner to boost sector growth from within its market-leading real estate team.

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Building And Fire Safety After Grenfell

Building and fire safety after Grenfell: the criminal process

11/09/2026

This blog explores the Grenfell criminal investigation, and what it could mean for corporate liability, senior management accountability, and safety governance.

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Wildfires And The Right Of Responsible Access Understanding Scotland's Laws On Fires And Barbeques

Wildfires and the right of responsible access: Understanding Scotland's laws on fires and barbeques

31/07/2026

Following Scotland's recent wildfires, we examine the legal rules on fires and barbecues, including access rights, byelaws, restrictions and the responsibilities of outdoor users.

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