Richard Lockhart spent years advising Scottish ministers on how to fund hospitals, roads and net zero projects from inside government. Now he’s switching sides.
The former General Counsel at Scottish Futures Trust joined Freeths as a partner in February, bringing two decades of public sector infrastructure experience to the firm’s Glasgow office. He left Burness Paull to make the move.
The hire matters because Lockhart knows where the money flows. At SFT—the body that oversees billions in Scottish public infrastructure investment—he structured major programmes including healthcare partnerships, transport schemes and the organisation’s net zero initiative. Before that, he held a Public Interest Director role at Taycare Health Limited, giving him operational insight into how Scotland’s biggest healthcare infrastructure actually functions once it’s built.
“We’re really pleased to welcome Richard to Freeths. His track record in delivering complex infrastructure and energy projects speaks for itself, and his appointment strengthens our ability to support clients on some of the most important programmes underway in Scotland and across the UK,” said Paul Ockrim, Joint Head of Freeths Glasgow. “It’s another strong indication of the ambition and momentum within our Glasgow office.”
The appointment is the third senior hire Freeths Glasgow has made in six months. Corporate partner Louise Mahon and dispute resolution partner Jane Dickers both arrived in the second half of 2024, suggesting the firm is pursuing something more aggressive than steady growth.
For Lockhart, the pull was clear. “Freeths’ growth, its strength in the Commercial, Infrastructure and Energy sectors, and its commitment to supporting clients through the net zero transition were all major draws for me,” he said. “I am excited to join the team in Glasgow and to contribute to the firm’s work in delivering innovative, sustainable and commercially sound solutions for clients across the public and private sectors.”
His expertise spans programme development, government policy implementation, procurement and commercial advisory. During his time at SFT, he worked on hub projects, the mutual investment model, and what the Scottish government calls non-profit distributing model infrastructure schemes—the public-private partnerships that underpin much of Scotland’s social infrastructure.
The timing coincides with mounting pressure on Scottish public finances and increased scrutiny of how major projects get delivered. Lockhart advised the UK, Scottish and Welsh governments, local authorities, funders and contractors—a rolodex that could prove valuable as Freeths competes for work on upcoming infrastructure tenders.
Freeths positions itself as a top 50 commercial law firm with clients including Centrica, ENGIE, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK and Lloyds Bank. The firm gained national attention for its High Court victory representing 555 sub-postmasters against the Post Office—one of Britain’s most significant miscarriages of justice—and continues advising on compensation schemes stemming from that case.
It’s also a certified B Corporation, signalling a focus on environmental and social governance that aligns with Lockhart’s net zero background. The firm holds Diversity Champion status from Stonewall, Gold accreditation from Investors in People as of 2025, and appears in the Legal 500 Green Guide 2026.
Recent awards include Law Firm of the Year at both the City AM Awards 2025 and Legal Business Awards 2024. The Lawyer Awards 2025 named it runner-up for UK Firm of the Year.
What the appointments signal is clear enough: Freeths intends to compete seriously in Scotland’s infrastructure and energy markets. Whether three senior hires in six months translates to sustained market share remains to be seen, but firms don’t poach government general counsel without expecting significant returns.
For competitors in the Scottish legal market, the pattern will look familiar. London and regional firms have been eyeing Scotland’s infrastructure pipeline for years, particularly as net zero commitments drive renewable energy and transport investment. The difference now is the pace—and the seniority of the people moving.
Lockhart’s background gives Freeths something competitors will find hard to replicate quickly: genuine insider knowledge of how Scottish government procurement actually works, where bottlenecks emerge, and which officials hold decision-making power. That intelligence matters when bidding for public sector mandates worth tens of millions.
The firm’s Glasgow office now has the infrastructure expertise to credibly pitch for major programmes. How many of those pitches convert to instructions will determine whether February 2025 marks a turning point or just another hiring announcement in a crowded market.
