Executive Committee
Ayla Iridag - President
Ayla graduated from the University of Dundee in 2014 with an LLB (Hons) and Dip PLP. She began her traineeship with Simpson and Marwick in their Dundee office. Ayla moved to Edinburgh where she she now practices as a civil litigation solicitor with Clyde & Co.
At university Ayla was the Student Director of the Dundee Student Law Clinic and now continues her charity activities as a member of the Lawscot Foundation Fundraising Committee and as a judge with the Donald Dewar Debating Competition.
Ayla has a particular interest in legal education and representation. She sits on the editorial board of the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland and as an executive board member of the European Young Bar Association.
Ayla was elected President of the Association in May 2019.
Ayla graduated from the University of Dundee in 2014 with an LLB (Hons) and Dip PLP. She began her traineeship with Simpson and Marwick in their Dundee office. Ayla moved to Edinburgh where she she now practices as a civil litigation solicitor with Clyde & Co.
At university Ayla was the Student Director of the Dundee Student Law Clinic and now continues her charity activities as a member of the Lawscot Foundation Fundraising Committee and as a judge with the Donald Dewar Debating Competition.
Ayla has a particular interest in legal education and representation. She sits on the editorial board of the Journal of the Law Society of Scotland and as an executive board member of the European Young Bar Association.
Ayla was elected President of the Association in May 2019.
Chiara Pieri - Vice President
Chiara is a Contentious Construction Solicitor at Shepherd and Wedderburn, although is currently undertaking a secondment to Scottish Power Energy Networks. Chiara graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in Scots Law with Italian Language, having also completed a year at the University of Bologna. She went on to complete her Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde. Chiara is in her third year as a Committee member, having joined as a non- executive member in 2018. Chiara manages the SYLA’s social media presence. She has assisted with organising the SYLA Spring Ball for two years consecutively and has organised various CPD events throughout the years in collaboration with the CIPR, the RICS and the SDLA to name a few. Chiara is keen to encourage members to become involved with the wider profession through organising social, networking and CPD events. You can follow Chiara on Twitter at @chiarapierisw
Chiara is a Contentious Construction Solicitor at Shepherd and Wedderburn, although is currently undertaking a secondment to Scottish Power Energy Networks. Chiara graduated from the University of Glasgow with a degree in Scots Law with Italian Language, having also completed a year at the University of Bologna. She went on to complete her Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde. Chiara is in her third year as a Committee member, having joined as a non- executive member in 2018. Chiara manages the SYLA’s social media presence. She has assisted with organising the SYLA Spring Ball for two years consecutively and has organised various CPD events throughout the years in collaboration with the CIPR, the RICS and the SDLA to name a few. Chiara is keen to encourage members to become involved with the wider profession through organising social, networking and CPD events. You can follow Chiara on Twitter at @chiarapierisw
Laila Kennedy - Treasurer
Laila is a Trainee Solicitor with Ledingham Chalmers LLP. She graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a LL.B (Honours) 2:1 in 2019, and achieved the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice with Distinction in 2020.
Laila first joined the SYLA in September 2015, as a first year law student and has thoroughly enjoyed representing SYLAs’ members. She is delighted to have been re-elected onto the Committee for a fourth year, and as Treasurer on the Executive Committee for a second year. She manages the Associations’ Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
Laila has focused on organising the annual Women In Law event in Edinburgh for the last two years. She continues to focus on outreach of the Association by organising events for students, and those in Aberdeen and Dundee.
You can follow Laila on Twitter @LailaKennedy15, or email lailaktreasurersyla@gmail.com.
Laila is a Trainee Solicitor with Ledingham Chalmers LLP. She graduated from the University of Aberdeen with a LL.B (Honours) 2:1 in 2019, and achieved the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice with Distinction in 2020.
Laila first joined the SYLA in September 2015, as a first year law student and has thoroughly enjoyed representing SYLAs’ members. She is delighted to have been re-elected onto the Committee for a fourth year, and as Treasurer on the Executive Committee for a second year. She manages the Associations’ Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
Laila has focused on organising the annual Women In Law event in Edinburgh for the last two years. She continues to focus on outreach of the Association by organising events for students, and those in Aberdeen and Dundee.
You can follow Laila on Twitter @LailaKennedy15, or email lailaktreasurersyla@gmail.com.
Claire Paterson - Secretary
Claire is a solicitor at Slater and Gordon Lawyers. Claire graduated from the University of Dundee in 2012 before going on to study the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh. She worked as a paralegal with Slater and Gordon before beginning her traineeship. She qualified as a solicitor in June 2019 and specialises in dealing with personal injury and medical negligence claims. Claire joined the committee in May 2018 as a non-executive committee member, before being elected secretary last year. Claire is delighted to have been re-elected as secretary for the upcoming term. Claire has a particular interest in helping to supporting our members entering the profession, through helping to build our relationships with recruiters and the Law Society of Scotland. She is also interested in helping support members through providing advice and organising CPD and networking events, particularly out with the central belt. |
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Non-Executive Committee
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Past President - Jessica Weir
Jessica joined the SYLA committee in May 2016 as a non-executive committee member and was elected as President in May 2018. She has also held the posts of Secretary and Vice-President. Jessica graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an LLB (Hons) and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice. Following this Jessica completed her traineeship with Gillespie Macandrew and qualified as a solicitor in 2016. Jessica is now a solicitor in the banking team at Pinsent Masons. Committee Members Anna Hills Anna is a second year trainee solicitor with Thorntons Law LLP and has worked in a number of their offices across Scotland during the course of her traineeship. Originally from Falkirk, Anna graduated from the University of Glasgow with an LLB (Hons) in 2017 and completed the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh the following year. During her undergrad Anna was on the executive committee of Glasgow University’s Ballroom Dancing Society for two consecutive years and was a sub-editor for the Glasgow University Law Review. She also helped to arranged both of her grad balls and was President of her Diploma’s social committee. Anna is keen to represent and encourage further engagement with young lawyers outside of the central belt and main cities and is interested in bringing SYLA events and CPD to those outside these areas. Anna is delighted to have been elected as a non-executive committee member for 2020-21 and is looking forward to producing training, networking, and social events for the benefit of young lawyers across Scotland. Patricia Taylor Patricia is a solicitor with international law firm, DWF. She completed the LL.B. at Glasgow Caledonian University, and the DPLP at the University of Glasgow. Alongside possessing a keen interest in commercial matters, Patricia hopes to make a difference during her time as a solicitor. Following on from a managerial position in her University Law Clinic, Patricia is now a volunteer with the Law Society of Scotland's student Mentoring Programme. She also sits on the Fundraising Committee of the Law Scot Foundation – the Law Society of Scotland's social mobility charity. Patricia hopes to drive diversity and inclusion within the profession, and hopes to utilise her SYLA platform to educate further on such matters. Further, with a background in delivering policy-centric events, Patricia is well placed to provide some topical CPD opportunities. You can follow Patricia on twitter @_patriciataylor Antonia Welsh Antonia called to the Bar in May 2020 following a Bar Traineeship. She trained with Levy & McRae and Clyde & Co in 2018/19. Antonia has a particular interest in family law, especially cases with an international dimension. Antonia joined the committee in May 2019 and is delighted to have been re-elected in 2020. Antonia is keen to create a stronger link between young lawyers and the Scottish bar and to promote alternative career paths to students. She has been creative in her approach to events and hopes to provide valuable cpd that encompasses an element of fun and vibrancy. She was instrumental in the widely publicised “criminal trial of Santa Claus”, raising a substantial sum for Edinburgh’s Children’s Hospital charity - a cause close to her own heart given that she is a mother of twins. Maddie Thomas Maddie is a final year LLB student at the University of Dundee with hopes to studying the Diploma after completing her degree. She has a keen interest in corporate and sports law. At university, Maddie is heavily involved within the ladies’ hockey club and has sat on the Staff-Student Liaison Committee enabling the voices of students to be heard within the Law School. Additionally, Maddie is passionate about giving back to the wider community and has fundraised for several local charities, most notably for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS). Whilst on committee, Maddie wishes to engage with the younger members of the association through both social and CPD events. Natalie Bennett Natalie is a second year trainee solicitor with Harper Macleod, and has a particular interest working in corporate and finance. She completed the dual qualifying Scottish and English LL.B. at the University of Dundee, and the DPLP at the University of Glasgow. She was re-elected as a non-executive committee member in May 2020, and she is delighted to continue working with such a supportive organisation. Natalie’s aim for the upcoming year is to continue creating a space for young lawyers to voice their concerns whilst ensuring access to valuable CPD opportunities and wellbeing and support initiatives. She is looking forward to what will be an interest year ahead for SYLA as we continue to adapt and find new ways of connecting with our members. Matthew McGovern Matthew is a criminal defence solicitor with McGovern Reid. He graduated with an LLB (Hons) from the University of Strathclyde before obtaining his Diploma in Professional Practice from the same institution, where he served as the President of the Strathclyde Law Society. He also volunteers with the Law Society of Scotland as a career development mentor. He was elected to the Committee of SYLA in December 2019 and re-elected in May 2020. He has a particular interest in criminal law and representation issues involving new and aspiring criminal lawyers. He welcomes contact from law students who are interested in pursuing a career in criminal law and looks forward to engaging with SYLA members who are practising criminal lawyers. You can follow Matthew on twitter @mcgovernlawyer. Euan Forbes |
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Kenneth Norrie, Honorary PresidentProfessor Kenneth Norrie LLB, PhD, FRSE succeeded Alastair Bonnington to become our Honorary President in 2008. Professor Norrie was the Head of Strathclyde Law School between 2001 and 2007. Prior to that appointment he was a Lecturer in Law at Strathclyde University, Aberdeen University and Dundee University. Whilst originally a medical lawyer, Professor Norrie's main research interests developed some years ago into mainstream family law, in particular child law and child protection law, and his interests have recently further developed into the fields of law and sexual orientation and same-sex families. Most former students will remember him fondly as their family law lecturer. Indeed, the must read course text was his "Parent and Child" book, not to mention his legendary "marriage" lecture. He has also written widely on a variety of topics within the law of delict, in particular defamation. He has held visiting lectureships and professorships at the Universities of Regensburg, Vienna, Sydney, Wellington and Cape Town. He has taught classes at the Universities of Glasgow and Baltimore, Maryland. The Scottish Young Lawyers Association are delighted that such a well liked and respected academic holds our post of Honorary President. |
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