Our People
Meet the Winn Solicitors Scotland Team
James Peden
Partner, Head of Legal
James has a wealth of experience and expertise having started his traineeship at Brodies LLP in 2004. Dealing in a variety of areas of law, James developed a keen interest in litigation and secured a position working in Insurance and Risk.
After qualifying in 2006, he then earned Solicitor Advocate status five years later. Now able to represent clients in the highest courts in Scotland and the UK, James joined Winns in 2022 from Plexus Law where he had successfully helped open a new Edinburgh office back in 2013.
Andy Purvis
Head of Operations
Andrew brings a wealth of operational expertise to Winn Solicitors Scotland, having honed his skills in claims management and customer operations across various industries.
After significant success in transforming motor claims departments and implementing cutting-edge systems, Andrew transitioned to the legal sector in 2024.
Magdalena Wlochal
Deputy Head of Legal
Magdalena joined us in September 2024. With over 10 years of experience, she was well-placed to progress to our Deputy Head of
Legal for Scotland.
Magdalena’s substantial experience ensures she is confident to navigate serious, complex, and fatal cases with familiarity of all court processes.
James Nelson
Solicitor
James was admitted as a Solicitor and Notary Public in October 2023 having completed his traineeship at a leading global firm.
Ruaridh Williamson
Ruaridh graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a Second Class (First Division) Honours in Scots Law before going on to complete his Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh.
Kimberly Kane
Kimberly joined our team in September 2025 as an Associate Solicitor. Kimberly has over 10 years experience, starting out as a
paralegal in 2014 and qualifying as a Solicitor in 2018. Kimberly’s experience means she is well placed to guide and develop her colleagues.
Yoana Sevova
Yoana joined the firm from a small criminal firm, where she gained extensive
experience in court advocacy and client care. She graduated from the University
of Edinburgh in 2023 with a Diploma in Professional Legal Practice and has
since focused her career on personal injury and non-fault accident claims.
Karen Paterson
Karen has over 23 years’ experience handling Personal Injury and Credit Hire claims. She has acted for both Pursuers and Defenders, giving her a well‑rounded and strategic understanding of claims from all perspectives.
Gordon Lang
Gordon graduated with Honours in Scots Law from Strathclyde University in 2017. He has experience of working in both Defender and Pursuer firms. Gordon specialises in Personal Injury claims and always strives to get the right results for his clients
Zoe Thomson
Zoe is a Paralegal within our Litigation Team. After graduating with a BA in Criminology and Law in 2022, Zoe went on to completing her LLM in International Law at the University of Glasgow. Zoe looks forward to contributing to the continued success of the firm and supporting its goals through a proactive approach.
Holly MacKinnon
After joining Winn Solicitors Scotland in May
2025 as a Paralegal, Holly has since progressed to our Litigation Team. Having
graduated with her LLB in 2024 from Glasgow Caledonian University.
Simon Campbell
Simon has over 9 years of experience in personal injury, including road traffic collisions, public and occupier's liability, employers liability, and complex and catastrophic loss claim. Simon is passionate about delivering the best results for our clients, while ensuring the laims process is straightforward,reliable, and respectful.
Hugh Robertson
Hugh graduated from the
University of Strathclyde with an LLB in Scots Law (Honours) and went on to
complete his Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde. He completed his traineeship gaining valuable experience in criminal advocacy before moving into civil litigation, where he has developed a particular interest and now focuses his practice.
Hannah Wade
Hannah graduated with distinction in Scots law at the University of Glasgow before
completing her Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at Strathclyde. Prior to studying law, Hannah gained a Second Class (First Division) Honours degree in International Relations.
David McLean
David was admitted as a Solicitor and Notary Public in September 2025. David completed his traineeship at a leading personal injury
firm where he dealt with complex disease claims. David graduated from the
University of Glasgow with an LLB (Hons) in 2022. He returned in 2023 to complete his Diploma in Professional Legal Practice.
Nikita Whitehall
Nikita graduated from Robert Gordon University with a LLB and Diploma in Professional Legal Practice with Distinction, and has over 10 years of experience in the sector. Nikita has a special interest in complex and serious injury and enjoys the process of bringing, often lengthy cases, to a successful conclusion for her clients.
Marlena Pakula
’’Marlena is a Paralegal specialising in
personal injury claims within our Pre-Litigation team. Marlena holds a master’s degree in law and has a solid background in law and administration, bringing a practical, detail-driven approach to her work.
Mihaela Devenport
Mihaela started her journey in the legal sector in 2019, as a tribunal clerk of the Special Educational Needs and Disability
Tribunal in North-East of England. Mihaela brings enthusiasm and vast organisation skills with over 15 years experience in administrative positions.
Rachel West
Rachel graduated from the University of
Edinburgh with a LLB in Scots Law and is committed to supporting clients through their claims with professionalism and care.
Maisie Douglas
Maisie is a Paralegal within out Pre-Litigation team, supporting accident claims through thorough investigation and strong focus on client care. She holds an academic ground in Policing and Criminology, which provides a solid foundation for analytical and investigative work.
Rachel Craigan
Having graduated with her LLB with Honours from the University of Stirling in 2024, Rachel looks to further her legal qualifications by undertaking the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice, with hopes to qualify as a Solicitor. With a keen eye for detail and an eagerness to understand all elements of a case, Rachel has proven to have a good foundation to grow into her role as a Paralegal.
Kristine Volkova
Kristine graduated with an LLB Law with English Law from University of Aberdeen in 2024. She completed her Diploma in
Professional Legal Practice at the Robert Gordon University. Kristine joined
our team as a paralegal in July 2025 and has since secured a two-year training
contract. Kristine is due to qualify as a solicitor in October 2027.
Shannon McGregor
Shannon joined Winn Solicitors (Scotland) LLP in December 2025 after graduation with her Scots Law Ordinary degree from the University of Glasgow. Shannon is a Paralegal within our Pre-Litigation team
supporting clients with their personal injury claims.
Chloe Ferguson
Chloe graduated from the University of Stirling with a First-Class Honours degree in Law before completing her Diploma in
Professional Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh. Chloe is currently a Trainee Solicitor, committed to helping deliver clear and practical legal advice to clients.
Katie Gourlay
Katie graduated with an LLB
from the University of Edinburgh in 2021 before taking some time away from her
studies to gain practical experience as a Litigation Paralegal. She returned to
the University of Edinburgh in 2023 to obtain her Diploma in Professional Legal
Practice. She joined Winn Solicitors (Scotland) LLP as a trainee solicitor in
2025 and is due to qualify in 2027.
Connaire McGowan
Connaire graduated with a Bachelor of Common Law from University College Cork before completing a master’s at the University of Edinburgh. Connaire has previously worked in the contracts department of a multi-national engineering firm gaining experience in file management and communications.
Hannah Baur
Hannah graduated from Edinburgh Napier
University before going on to complete her Diploma in Professional Legal Practice at the University of Strathclyde. She began her legal career as a Paralegal who dealt with personal injury claims, focusing primarily on road traffic accidents. Hannah is now a Qualified Solicitor and is dedicated to providing the best outcome for her
client’s with empathy and support.
Morghan Jeffrey
Morghan graduated with her LLB from Edinburgh Napier University in 2025 and intends to complete the Diploma in Professional Legal Practice in the future. M orghan takes an empathetic approach to her work and strives to achieve the best possible outcome for our clients.”