THE PARTNERS of Edinburgh-headquartered law firm Brodies have re-elected Christine O’Neill as their chairman, giving her a third consecutive term in the role.

High-profile litigator Ms O’Neill, who succeeded Joyce Cullen in the role in 2013, will begin her new term at the beginning of May.

In welcoming the appointment the firm’s managing partner Nick Scott, who took over from Bill Drummond last year, said that Ms O’Neill is “one of the leading lawyers of her generation” who is “held in the highest regard by our clients and within our business”.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside Christine since becoming managing partner in May last year,” Mr Scott added.

“Beyond fulfilling all the formal demands of the role of chairman, she continually encourages everyone in our firm to be the best of themselves. In that regard, she acts as an exemplar herself.”

In her management role Ms O’Neill is closely involved in the firm’s business planning and governance, while her practice sees her advise on a wide range of public law and constitutional matters.

She serves as first standing junior to the Scottish Government and was part of the legal team that last year went to the Supreme Court to argue on the lawfulness of the Scottish Parliament’s Brexit legislation.

The court issued its ruling in December, finding that while the bill was largely competent when it passed last March, legislative changes by the UK government in the intervening period meant it could no longer stand.

Last year Brodies delivered its eighth consecutive year of turnover growth, attracting revenues of £68.6 million in the 12 months to the end of April, a rise of three per cent.