We are delighted to announce a series of key promotions alongside a string of exceptional academic achievements across its personal and family law teams.
Heading the announcements is the promotion of Sara Albizzati to Legal Director. Sara, previously a Senior Associate in the Personal Law department, has been recognised for her outstanding dedication to clients and her exceptional knowledge of her subject. Adding to her accolades, Sara has also been awarded a prestigious Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) Excellence Award 2026, naming her as the highest scoring Diploma graduate in Scotland across all four papers required to obtain the STEP Diploma .
In the Glasgow office, Faye Lipton has been promoted to Associate in the Family Law department. Faye’s advancement reflects her strong performance and commitment to expanding the firm’s family law footprint in the west of Scotland.
A Clean Sweep of Professional and Academic Success
The firm is also celebrating significant professional development milestones from other rising stars within the team:
- Lobna Abouelleil Passes SQE: Family Support team member Lobna Abouelleil has passed her Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and is now fully registered as a solicitor in England and Wales. This major milestone means she is set to begin the process of becoming qualified in Scotland.
- Briege Valentine Qualified as STEP Practitioner: Briege Valentine, Senior Solicitor in the Personal Law department, has successfully passed her STEP exams. She is now a fully qualified STEP practitioner, bringing industry-gold-standard expertise in trusts, estates, and future planning to the firm’s clients.
- First-Class Honours for Olivia McMurtrie: Olivia McMurtrie, from the firm’s Personal Law support team, is celebrating academic triumph after being awarded First-Class Honours in her law degree.
Scott Rasmusen, Managing Partner at Gibson Kerr, commented:
“These promotions and academic awards represent a brilliant chapter for Gibson Kerr. Sara’s worldwide STEP recognition and Faye’s promotion to Associate underscore the impressive depth of talent we are fortunate to have within the firm. “Investing in our people is at the core of our strategy. Seeing Lobna qualify as a solicitor in England and Wales, Briege secure her full STEP qualification, and Olivia achieve a First-Class law degree highlights a collective drive for excellence that directly benefits our clients. We are proud of all of them.”