David Fairnie

Solicitor

David has business-friendly, outcomes-based approach to Legal Practice.

David has a wealth of experience

David is originally from Fife and is a graduate of Dundee University. After qualifying as a Solicitor and working in private practice David came to Orkney in 1994 to take up a Solicitor post at  Orkney islands Council. In 1996 he was promoted to become the Council’s Chief Legal Officer a post he held until joining Lows in 2000. In this post he was in charge of the legal team  providing  advice across the full range of the council’s services and responsibilities.  He represented the Council’s interests in a number of significant Court and Tribunal proceedings and played a prominent role in the negotiation of the legal agreements which the Council entered into in 1999 to secure the long term future of the Flotta Oil terminal. He was Clerk of the Area Licensing Board and gained substantial experience in contentious and non-contentious regulatory work across many council functions .

During David’s time at the Council both the Scotland Act and the Human Rights Act came into force and David was heavily involved in advising the Council in preparing for the challenges presented. He was also a member of the Council’s election polling and returning teams in numerous parliamentary and local elections and in the Scottish Parliament referendum.

After six challenging but always interesting years at School Place David decided to return to private practice in 2000. Any regrets at leaving behind the council colleagues he had enjoyed working with were very-much tempered by being able to continue his career without leaving Orkney!

After joining Lows as an associate David was assumed as a partner (and later director) in 2001. David looks after a varied caseload of work for private and business clients. He handles both chamber and court work.

He is experienced in residential and commercial conveyancing and advises on preparation of Wills and Powers Of Attorney. 

David has  considerable expertise in advising clients on dealing with new legislative requirements for example the 2005 Licensing Act. 

David enjoys being able to act for a diverse clientele and feels  that having practised  Law, as it were, on two sides of the fence he can bring a breadth of insight and experience in helping clients achieve realistic, workable  outcomes when faced with legal challenges.

Outside of work David is a Kirkwall resident. He is keen on most sports but especially rugby, golf and ski-ing. He has participated in local amateur dramatic performances and has sung as a member of the St Magnus Festival chorus.