Director of Vendor Relations

• Jun 2021 - Present

Accredited Legal Technologist

• Sep 2019 - Present

Sam was Scotland's first ever Accredited Legal Technologist, under an accreditation scheme launched by the Law Society of Scotland in September 2019

Advisory Board Member

• Jan 2019 - Jun 2022

LawscotTech is a new initiative by the Law Society of Scotland to stimulate legal technology innovation in Scotland which will deliver practical benefits for those working in the justice and legal sectors and their clients. LawscotTech will provide support from concept stage through to taking a product or service to market.It brings together experts from the legal world and the technology world to work collaboratively. Through our connections, we are well placed to reach out to the legal profession, technology firms, the academic community and other business sectors with similar programmes such as the financial sector (FinTech Scotland).

Senior Tutor

• Nov 2018 - Jul 2022

Senior Tutor and co-author of the elective ‘Introduction to Legal Innovation & Technology’ taught at the School of Law as part of the Diploma in Professional Practice. This elective sought to better prepare law students for their careers by introducing them to legal technology and innovation concepts such as automation, document review using AI, eDisclosure and low code platforms. The module is a mixture of lectures on legal tech/innovation topics, workshops involving key legal tech suppliers such as Luminance and BRYTER, and interactive mock scenarios designed to teach the students how to encourage and participate in a culture of change and innovation in a typical law firm.

Innovation Manager

• Oct 2018 - Jun 2021

Sam was Burness Paull's first dedicated Innovation Manager.In this role, Sam was responsible for driving the firms' innovation agenda, which included scoping and running pilots and proof of concept projects for new software, processes or workflows across the business. Sam also provided client-facing support by sharing innovation knowledge and experience with clients, and by helping to ensure that the firm's solicitors had all the specialist technical knowledge which they might need. Sam is a regular speaker at legal technology / innovation events, and represented Burness Paull in the Lex Mundi 'innovation leaders' focus group.

Legal Technologist and Solicitor

• Dec 2016 - Oct 2018

Sam was Burness Paull’s first dedicated legal technologist. His duties fell broadly into two camps – 1) assisting the firm with internal projects to modernise and ‘up-tech’ everyday processes, and 2) being an externally facing tech expert ensuring his team (and the firm in general) has the very best knowledge and expertise. His particular areas of interest include cloud technology, cybersecurity, drones/UAVs and automation/AI. Sam is also the founder of the Scottish Legal Technologist Meet Up Group which arranges regular discussions and ‘round table’ reviews of the career option of being a legal technologist and how this may change in the near future.Sam holds degrees in both Computer Science and in Law, and is also a qualified and practicing solicitor with years of commercial project management experience offering further flexibility and expertise to the technology team. Sam is an associate member of the British Computer Society and the Law Society of Scotland.

Solicitor

• Mar 2015 - Dec 2016

Sam was formerly part of the Construction & Projects team, based in Glasgow. This role was split equally between 'pure' non contentious construction maters and projects. Construction activities included negotiating and drafting building contracts, professional team appointments and performance guarantees. Project activities mostly involved acting for the developer/employer in NPD model projects.Areas of particular interest included:- new build hotels- civic realm projects delivered through the SFT 'hub' model- new build and refurbished student accommodation

Board Member

• Nov 2017 - May 2019

Advice Direct Scotland is an independent member of The Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.advice.scot is the online identity of Advice Direct Scotland and is an advice hub offering a genuine multimedia service: their aim is to help customers, using the access channel of their choice. Advice Direct Scotland is an independent member of The Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux.advice.scot is the online identity of Advice Direct Scotland and is an advice hub offering a genuine multimedia service: their aim is to help customers, using the access channel of their choice.

Commercial Manager

• Jan 2017 - May 2017

On part-time secondment from Burness Paull LLP as a Commercial Manager, Sam was the developer-side project lead for commercials on a range of several social infrastructure schemes for hub West region Participants. Projects which achieved financial close include:1 - refurbishment of Moorfoot Primary School, Inverclyde2 - design and build of new St Andrews Primary School, East Dunbartonshire3 - design and build of new St Ninian's Primary School, Inverclyde4 - design and build of new Early Years Nursery, Inverclyde

Commercial Manager

• Apr 2015 - Sep 2015

On secondment from Burness Paull LLP as a Commercial Manager, Sam was the developer-side project lead for commercials on a range of several social infrastructure schemes for hub West region Participants. Projects to achieve financial close included:July 2015 - new St Patrick's Primary School for Inverclyde CouncilAugust 2015 - new Lenzie Moss Primary School for East Dunbartonshire CouncilOctober 2015 - Kilmacolm Primary School refurbishment for Inverclyde Council On secondment from Burness Paull LLP as a Commercial Manager, Sam was the developer-side project lead for commercials on a range of several social infrastructure schemes for hub West region Participants. Projects to achieve financial close included:July 2015 - new St Patrick's Primary School for Inverclyde CouncilAugust 2015 - new Lenzie Moss Primary School for East Dunbartonshire CouncilOctober 2015 - Kilmacolm Primary School refurbishment for Inverclyde Council

Research and Projects Manager

• Sep 2013 - Mar 2015

This role focused on proactive special projects for GAP Group, both internal and customer facing. A special emphasis was placed on market knowledge and the identification of new markets and opportunities, as well as managing business change within the Group.Between January and August 2014 this role focused almost exclusively on the successful delivery of three major supplies contracts to the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. This involved the project management of all three contracts to ensure the successful delivery of GAP's areas of supply, as well as ad hoc support in other areas. This project represents the first major venture for GAP's new division, GAP Event Services.

Contracts Team Leader

• Mar 2010 - Sep 2013

GAP Group Ltd is the UK's largest independent plant and tool hirer. Based within GAP's head office in Glasgow Sam had senior responsibility for ensuring that all formal bids and tenders to GAP's clients (including FTSE100 companies) and other commercial ventures were completed to a high standard with all applicable commercial advice and due diligence in place. Sam provided a range of commercial advice and analysis to ensure that customer requirements were met whilst maintaining a sustainable, profitable and quality-focused approach to GAP's business.Sam supervises and managed two other members in the Commercial Team, ensuring that all bids and tenders were completed on time and to a professional standard. Sam also acted as a point of contact with several large accounts to ensure resolution of any commercial queries, and the development of new ideas to maximize business potential.

Trainee Solicitor

• Sep 2007 - Aug 2009

Pinsent Masons is a global top 100 commercial law firm, employing around 1,000 lawyers across a broad range of legal sectors. The firm is particularly well known for its work in construction and engineering, and is among the top 3 advisors to AIM clients.As a trainee solicitor Sam worked for 6 months each in Commercial Property, Construction Litigation, Planning & Environmental, and Projects. Pinsent Masons is a global top 100 commercial law firm, employing around 1,000 lawyers across a broad range of legal sectors. The firm is particularly well known for its work in construction and engineering, and is among the top 3 advisors to AIM clients.As a trainee solicitor Sam worked for 6 months each in Commercial Property, Construction Litigation, Planning & Environmental, and Projects.