Stuart Mackie

Stuart Mackie is a Private Client solicitor with 15 years of experience advising high-net-worth individuals, families and trustees on complex Scottish succession planning and estate and trust administration. He is a proven practice builder with a strong personal private client following and a track record of revenue growth, cross referrals and team leadership. Stuart is a STEP qualified, recognised and trusted advisor to farming families, landed estates and business owners. His particular specialisms are advising on agricultural property relief, digital assets and contentious private client's matters.

Thorntons Law LLP

Partner

June 2021 – Present

Thorntons Law LLP

Associate

June 2018 – May 2021

Built a strong technical foundation across private client advisory and estate administration work. I developed early client relationships that later become part of a personal following. Early leadership experience leading the private client offering in Thorntons Montrose office.

Thorntons Law LLP

Senior Solicitor

February 2015 – May 2018

Transitioned from court solicitor to private client solicitor learning private client and estate administration work.

Sunderland University & AMEC

September 2013 – January 2015

Completed MSc in Environment Health and Safety and worked in the Oil and Gas Industry.

Thorntons Law LLP

Solicitor

June 2010 – August 2013

Managing a caseload of various civil and criminal cases including Sheriff Court appearance work and instructing counsel for the Court of Session.

Thorntons Law LLP

Trainee Solicitor

June 2008 – June 2010

Completed seats in the Private Client Department, Civil and Criminal Litigation Department and Land and Rural Business Department.

STEP (Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners)

Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (CertIOSH)

Law Society of Scotland

• Personal Private Client following with recurring annual billings of £1.8m.

• Lead advisor to high net worth (HNW) families, farming families and landed estates valued up to £45m.

• Strategic IHT, CGT and succession planning.

• Advisor to Discretionary Trusts, Interest in Possession Trusts, Charitable Trusts, Vulnerable Person Trusts and Trusts for Bereaved Minors.

• Complex Estate Administration (high-value and contentious).

• Team leadership, supervision and mentoring.

• Lead Locational Partner for 2 of Thorntons 14 offices.

• Business development, referrals and practice development.

• Speaking engagements and profile raising.

• Consulted with Scottish Government on Digital Assets Bill

• Committee Member of the STEP Global Digital Assets Steering Group

STEP Diploma in Trusts and Estates (Merit)

Sunderland University

MSc Environment Health & Safety (Merit)

2014

Dundee University

Diploma in Legal Practice

2008

University of Abertay Dundee

Batchelors of Law LLB (Hons) First Class

2007

• Manage a private client team of 10 personnel including solicitors, paralegals, trust managers and support staff.

• Generating annual fee income of £1.8m with consistent year on year growth.

• Advising HNW, farming families, landed estates on succession planning.

• Design and implement complex estate and succession planning structures, including discretionary trusts.

• Acting as lead partner on high-value estate administration, regularly administering estates exceeding £10m.

• Drive business development through referrals from accountants, wealth managers and financial advisors.

• Locational Lead Partner who co-ordinates business development and operational management all with a view to ensuring the location’s success, responsible for expanding the firm’s market presence and ensuring alignment with the firm’s overall objectives. Ensuring the firm’s values and culture are upheld.

• Lead Partner for the development of the Firm’s Executry process.

• Supervise and mentor trainees, solicitors, senior solicitors and Associates; involved in promotions and performance decisions.

• Lead Partner and Advisor for digital assets and cryptocurrency in succession planning and estate administration.

Scotland