Stodarts People
Stewart Graham – Senior Partner
Stewart has been a solicitor in Hamilton for 28 years. His work includes property, commercial, wills, estates and powers of attorney. Born in Lanark, Stewart obtained an honours degree at Glasgow University and then completed his training in a city firm before joining Stodart Orr & Co in 1980.
He is a member of the Law Society Professional Practice Committee, and is also a part-time Convener of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland. He has an interest in charity law and governance, and as subject matter expert assisted in the training given to the members of the Scottish Charity Appeals Panel. He has also tutored in conveyancing at the Glasgow Graduate School of Law.
Married to Susan, a research scientist, they have two children, Lauren and Rory.
Stewart is a keen swimmer, and enjoys water skiing and windsurfing.
Contact Stewart: stewartgraham@stodarts.co.uk
Alan R. Bayley – Partner
Alan handles a wide variety of work particularly property and business matters. He also has a particular interest in family law issues, relating to divorce, separation and children.
He is the author of “Financial Provision on Divorce and Dissolution of Civil Partnerships”. The book was published in 2008 by one of Scotland’s leading Law Publishers and deals with how financial matters are dealt with when marriages and civil partnerships break down.
In addition to his work within the firm, Alan is a part-time Convener of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and has also been appointed by the Scottish Legal Aid Board as a Peer Reviewer. Alan studied law at Glasgow University where he obtained his honours degree in 1989 and has worked in Hamilton for the whole of his professional life.
Outwith the office, Alan’s main interest is in the theatre, having directed several touring productions including a number of shows which have been staged at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
He is married to Shirley and has two children – Roslyn and Jonathan.
Contact Alan: alanbayley@stodarts.co.uk
Grant Wood – Consultant
Grant Wood has always practised law in Hamilton and was a partner of Stodarts and its predecessors Stodart, Orr & Co. and Stodart & Hay Cassels for over thirty years until August, 2008. He has a wide experience of property work, wills, estates and tax planning with particular knowledge of farming and is available to give advice in these areas where appropriate.
Grant is Secretary of the Lanarkshire Valuation Appeal Panel, a part-time Judge of the Tribunals Service and a part time Convener of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland.
Grant has lived all his life in Lanarkshire, having been born and brought up in Stonehouse and having lived in Hamilton for the last thirty years. He is married to Jane, also a lawyer, and they have three grown up children, Carolyn, who is an accountant, and Elaine and Gordon, both of whom are doctors practising in hospital medicine.
Contact Grant: grantwood@stodarts.co.uk
Ruth McCall - Associate
Ruth is an Associate, having served her traineeship with Stodarts. Prior to that, she obtained her honours degree from Glasgow University and her Diploma in Legal Practice from the Glasgow Graduate School of Law.
Ruth is involved in a wide range of work, although she has a particular interest in conveyancing, mental health and family law matters. Ruth has been appointed as a curator ad litem by the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and is also a serving panel member for the Children's Panel in Falkirk.
Ruth lives in Falkirk and enjoys cooking, badminton and music.
Contact Ruth: ruth@stodarts.co.uk
Lyndsey Murphy - Solicitor
Lyndsey is a qualified assistant, having served her traineeship with Stodarts. She obtained her honours degree at Strathclyde University and her Diploma in Legal Practice from the Glasgow Graduate School of Law.
Lyndsey is involved in a range of work, although she has a particular interest in conveyancing and family law.
Lyndsey lives in East Kilbride and enjoys swimming and socialising with friends.
Contact Lyndsey: lyndsey@stodarts.co.uk
Joanne Nicoll - Solicitor
Joanne is a qualified solicitor, having joined the firm as a Trainee in 2007. She studied at Strathclyde University where she obtained her LLB honours degree before completing the Diploma in Legal Practice at the Glasgow Graduate School of Law.
Joanne is currently practising in various legal fields, but has a particular interest in conveyancing and family law matters. Joanne is also a member of the Family Law Association.
Outwith the office, Joanne likes to keep fit and plays field hockey with Dalziel Ladies.
Contact Joanne: joanne@stodarts.co.uk
Elaine McMeekin – Paralegal
Elaine joined the firm in March 2000 and is employed as a Paralegal/Executry Assistant. Elaine deals principally with Wills, Estates and Trusts but has extensive experience in all areas of legal work.
Elaine was born in Glasgow though spent her whole life in East Kilbride and still lives there today. She has worked in legal practices for over twenty years and completed her paralegal courses at Strathclyde University.
Elaine has one daughter, Nicola.
She spends her spare time reading books, socialising and going to the cinema.
Contact Elaine: elainemcmeekin@stodarts.co.uk
