This senior hire follows the appointment of partner John Dunlop in the firm’s Edinburgh office last year, further strengthening BTO’s growing real estate capability.

Ms Strong brings over 20 years’ experience advising on all aspects of commercial real estate. She has a track record of acting for developers, property investors, retailers and other occupiers, many of whom she has supported across the full property lifecycle.

Grant Hunter, managing partner of BTO, said: “Donna is widely recognised for her commercial, pragmatic approach and her strong client relationships.

“Her experience across retail, leisure and investment work will be a valuable addition to our real estate team and the services we offer to the market. We are delighted to welcome her to the firm as we continue to invest in bringing top talent to BTO in line with our strategic business plan of driving sustainable growth.”

Ms Strong added: “I am excited to be joining BTO at this stage in its expansion. The calibre of the real estate team, headed by Nicolas McBride, and the firm’s collaborative culture really stood out for me.

“I look forward to working with Nick and my new colleagues across the business to support our clients on complex and strategic property matters, and to building on BTO’s excellent reputation in the market.”