Established in 1750
Specialising in Legal Matters for over 250 years
From a small solicitor’s office in the narrow streets of 18th century Dunblane, to a modern and friendly law firm on the High Street, McLean & Stewart has become a local institution, synonymous with credibility, expertise and a forward-thinking approach to solving legal matters.
Dunblane is one of the oldest settlements in Scotland and McLean & Stewart are part of that history. The firm was founded by Patrick Stirling, a writer in Dunblane, in the mid 1700s, around the time Bonnie Prince Charlie spent a night in Dunblane at Balhaldie House on his way south with his Highland army. The firm was passed down generations and was known for many years in the 1800s as Stirling & McLean, before becoming McLean & Stewart in 1906.
After a history of a predominantly male partnership, in 2007 and 2008 respectively, Hazel Langan and Gemma Baillie joined the firm as trainees. McLean & Stewart has grown rapidly since then and with Hazel and Gemma now at the helm of the operation, the business has been transformed into a modern, dynamic and professional law firm, with a team of approachable and forward-thinking professionals who work hard to find practical solutions for their client’s legal challenges.
Corporate Social Responsibility
We are very aware of the impact that our business has on our surroundings and as a law firm in a small town we know how important it is for us to play our part to reduce our carbon emissions and combat the effects of climate change, and to also look after our community and support charities that are close to the hearts of the people we work and live with.
At McLean & Stewart we try to reduce our carbon footprint by recycling and reducing all types of waste, reducing energy usage and increasing office efficiency, minimising paper usage, and improving our overall sustainability.
We are also actively involved in a number of charities including
Sophie North Charitable Trust
Partner Gemma Baillie is a Trustee of this charity which was set up by Michael North to honour the memory of his daughter, Sophie North, one of the 16 children who were killed at Dunblane Primary School, along with their teacher, on 13th March 1996. The Sophie North Charitable Trust raises money for children’s diseases, children’s hospices, breast cancer, care of the terminally ill and charities involved with conflict resolution and anger reduction.
Will Aid
McLean & Stewart has taken part in Will Aid for over 15 years, a Will writing campaign where every November participating solicitors waive their fee for writing Wills for local people in exchange for a donation to the charity. With the generous support of clients, our firm has raised over £10,000 to date for the charity. Will Aid supports the vital work of ActionAid, AgeUK, British Red Cross, Christian Aid, NSPCC, Save The Children, SCIAF, Sightsavers, and Trocaire.
Start Up Stirling
Poverty can happen to anyone, and people find themselves in financial difficulty or unexpected crisis more often than you might think. Helping our local communities is part of our ethos and our staff and clients support the Start Up Stirling foodbank, a charity that has been helping local people in need since 1994. Together we can make a difference to help local people in crisis.
Strathcarron Hospice
Every moment counts. And that is why we work in partnership with the Strathcarron Hospice, who support people and their families across Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth living with life-limiting conditions to live and die well, and why we provide certain legal services for free to their service users.
Stirling Children’s Appeal
Running since 2008, the Stirling Children’s Appeal receives and distributes donations of new toys and gifts for sick, disabled, needy and disadvantaged children and young people aged from babies to teenagers. McLean & Stewart are a local drop-off point for the Appeal, and as part of our corporate charity engagement, our staff all donate gifts to the children every Christmas.
The Dunblane Centre
The Dunblane Centre is a local charity established using donations sent from around the world following the aftermath of the Dunblane Primary School tragedy in 1996. The Centre has been part of the local community since opening in 2004 and provides a safe, welcoming hub for all age groups to come and meet, and offers everything from team sports and exercise classes, to youth clubs, art classes and all kinds of social groups. Partner Gemma Baillie is Company Secretary for the Dunblane Centre.