Partners
Jonathan C. A. Clinch
Anne Stanley-Whyte
Scott C. Docherty
Solicitor Advocate
Douglas J. C. Thomson
Consultants
John A. G. Gilmour
Ian Wolfe
Solicitors
Denise Laverty
Stephen Mullan
Nicola Bonthrone
Linda McFarlane
GSPC Letting & Estate Agency
Derek P. Bowman
Carol Walsh
The GSPC Team
Our Support Staff
Jonathan C. Clinch
Partner, Helensburgh Office
Jonathan is a specialist in conveyancing, wills, powers of attorney, inheritance tax planning and executries, and is based in our Helensburgh office.
He was born and educated in Edinburgh, although he graduated from Dundee University and trained with McArthur Stanton where he has worked ever since.
Jonathan lives in Helensburgh with his wife Morag and their daughter. He is one of the founding directors of Helensburgh and Lomond Chamber of Commerce, and a former director of Helensburgh Heritage Trust.
Away from the office and apart from curling, Jonathan enjoys cycling and snowboarding, the latter of which sometimes proves painful! He is a member of Helensburgh and District Round Table, having previously held the post of Chairman, and has also been President of Helensburgh Curling Club.
To speak to Jonathan or arrange an appointment, please call him on 01436 672212.
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Anne Stanley-Whyte
Partner, Helensburgh Office
Anne is based in our Helensburgh office, and specialises in all domestic sale and purchase transactions, remortgages, securities, property transfers and discharges.
However, having worked previously at a progressive Firm in Glasgow, she also brings to the Firm her considerable experience in commercial property matters, including leasing, buying and selling, and assignations and sublets.
She is not a slave to the law, however. She took time out to enjoy life in Belgium for three years, likes to sail and play the piano, and is employed on a regular basis as a taxi driver for her two children. Further to this, she is presently on the Board of Governors of Lomond School, and a member of the Helensburgh Amateur Swimming Club Committee.
To speak to Anne, her telephone number is 01436 672212.
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Scott C. Docherty
Partner, Dumbarton Office
Scott works in our Dumbarton Office. He deals exclusively with court work, with a particular focus on civil court practice, including family law, reparation, debt recovery, and employment law.
He makes the daily trek in to the office from his house in Glasgow, where he lives with his wife Tracey and their son. Outside of the law he enjoys football (for personal safety reasons he has asked for his team persuasion to be left out), web design, and a social life which leaves him little time to relax!
Scott is presently Librarian to the Faculty of Solicitors of Dunbartonshire, a member of the Rotary Club of Dumbarton, and also has a hand in organising the Firm's involvement in local charitable donation and sponsorship.
To arrange an appointment with Scott, please call him on 01389 762266.
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Douglas J. C. Thomson
Solicitor Advocate, Dumbarton Office
Doulgas is our resident Solicitor Advocate. He has rights of audience in the High Court of Justiciary and in the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. He is involved in all aspects of civil and criminal court work, both legally aided and private, in all Scottish courts from the District Court to the Appeal Court.
He was formerly a Tribunal Chairman for the Parole Board for Scotland, is the author of the legal textbook 'Prisons, Prisoners and Parole', has written numerous articles on crime in the Scots Law Times, and has appeared as Counsel many times in the High Court and in the Sheriff Courts throughout Scotland specialising in criminal defence and appeals, including more recently a high profile fatal accident enquiry.
Other than an avid and rather unique taste in music, Douglas enjoys gardening, and can often be seen in the office tending to his ever-sprouting lemon tree!
To meet with Douglas or speak with him on the phone, please call 01389 762266.
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John A. G. Gilmour
Consultant Solicitor, Dumbarton Office
John's professional connection with McArthur Stanton and the town of Dumbarton spans some four decades, having retired as a Partner of the Firm in 1998..
John is now a very active Consultant to the Firm in the fields of marketing and liquor licensing, the latter for which he remains a specialist accredited by the Law Society of Scotland.
Hailing from the Vale of Leven and living in Helensburgh with his wife Roma, John has previously been Dean of the Faculty of Solicitors of Dunbartonshire, and remains an Honorary Sheriff at Dumbarton. He enjoys playing golf, watching football, and spending quality time with his grandchildren.
To speak to John, please phone 01389 762266 or 01436 672212. John works part-time with the Firm, and when you phone you will be advised when he will next be available.
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Ian Wolfe
Consultant, Dumbarton / Helensburgh Office
Formerly our Senior Partner, Ian became a Consultant with the Firm in 2010. Having previously enjoyed a successful career involving mainly litigation, he now specialises in executry and conveyancing work, matters relating to Guardianship and Intervention Orders, and also handles matters concerning childrens' referrals.
Having spent his early years in Coatbridge before attending Linlithgow Academy and the University of Edinburgh, Ian completed his legal training in Bathgate, and joined McArthur Stanton in 1980.
Ian is a former Treasurer of the Faculty of Solicitors of Dunbartonshire, and past Chairman of the Helensburgh and District Round Table. He has interests in hillwalking, skiing, and gardening, and lives with his partner Karen in Helensburgh, their two daughters having flown the nest.
To speak to Ian, his number is either 01389 762266 or 01436 672212. He is available for consultations at any of our offices below, normally being resident at Dumbarton in the mornings and at Helensburgh in the afternoons.
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Denise Laverty
Solicitor, Helensburgh Office
Denise is a member of our Court department and is based in our Helensburgh office. She is the first and, at the moment, the only solicitor in the Dunbartonshire and Helensburgh locality to be qualified in both English and Scots law.
She has many years of experience working both in England and Scotland in private practice, in-house for a major Public Limited Company and as Head of Professional Development for a major Scottish firm of solicitors.
Denise concentrates mainly on matrimonial matters, and is a member of the Scottish Family Law Association. She also undertakes work in personal injury law, consumer law, product liability and employment law.
Outside the office Denise manages to combine being a working Mum of two with being an active member of the Helensburgh Tennis Club, representing the club in the West of Scotland League, and regularly working out at a local gym. More leisurely pursuits include dinghy and yacht sailing as well as Pilates.
As such, if you wish advice on such matters even if you are based elsewhere in the UK, please contact Denise on 01436 672212.
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Stephen Mullan
Solicitor, Dumbarton Office
Stephen lives in Paisley and is married with two teenage sons. He occasionally endures the pain of attending St. Mirren games, but his main interests are golf and sailing.
He is based in our Dumbarton Office where he concentrates on residential property transactions, Wills, and Powers of Attorney.
Further to this, Stephen also holds a teaching qualification for Higher Education, and has lectured and delivered a range of courses centred largely on the impact of the internet on law, having obtained a Masters Degree in that area from Strathclyde University in 2001, as (in his own words!) a very mature student.
Feel free to contact Stephen by calling 01389 762266 or by using our convenient contact form.
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Nicola Bonthrone
Solicitor, Helensburgh Office
Nicola joined the Firm in 2007. She has many years' experience in general legal practice, focusing in particular on matrimonial and family law, personal injury, employment, criminal law and criminal injuries compensation, for both private and legally aided clients.
Having graduated from Dundee University in 1987, she went onto practice in Lockerbie, and had extensive involvement in the progression of compensation claims arising out of the Lockerbie Air Disaster.
Nicola has lived and worked in Helensburgh for many years since that time. She is married and has two children, but somehow manages to find the time to cram in more leisurely pursuits such as swimming and keep fit classes! If you wish to contact Nicola, please phone her on 01436 672212.
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Linda McFarlane
Solicitor, Helensburgh Office
Linda is a member of our residential and commerical property and licensing team, and is based in Helensburgh. She has extensive experience in commercial property work, including industrial and retail leasing acting for both landlord and tenant, acquisitions for developers and property investors, property portfolio management and secured lending for financial and other institutions.
Over the years Linda has worked for a broad range of clients from individual private investors to major blue chip companies, including those with involvement in specialist areas of commerical property such as petrol retailing, telecommunication, utilities and air traffic control.
Linda is enthusiastic, friendly and approachable. She has a strong commercial awareness and a very pragmatic approach. Outwith the office environment, Linda devotes her time her family and enjoys the (perfectly safe?) activities of climbing, cycling and kayaking.
You can reach Linda today on 01436 672212.
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Derek Bowman
Property Manager, GSPC Office
Derek is an experienced estate agent and property valuer, and heads our property sales and estate agency department in our Helensburgh GSPC Office.
Having been valuing property since 1973 and being born and bred in the area, you can be sure that if you are buying, selling or renting a property, you will be able to tap Derek's vast knowledge of and experience in the property market.
Derek plays a mean keyboard in his spare time, and has been President of Helensburgh Rugby Club, Treasurer of Helensburgh Curling Club, and a long-standing member of Helensburgh Rotary Club.
To speak to Derek for advice or to arrange a valuation of your property, give him a call on 01436 678822.
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Carol Walsh
Letting Manager, GSPC Office
Carol has been involved in property and financial services for over 20 years, and is now the Manager of our dedicated Letting Department. She is happy to provide you with friendly and experienced advice on any aspect of property letting, and will work closely with you to ensure a smooth and hassle-free arrangement and ongoing maintenance of your letting business.
Having lived in Helensburgh for many years, Carol is able to apply her considerable local knowledge in helping you profit from your venture in the area.
In her spare time Carol looks after her family, runs the odd 10K for charity, and as if that's not enough to tire her out, also likes to help with the local swimming club.
Call her today on 01436 678822 for any of your letting needs.
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Our GSPC Team and Letting Team
Estate Agency and Letting Services, GSPC Office
Our team in the GSPC and Letting office in Helensburgh is at hand to assist you between 9am and 5pm throughout the week, and from 9am to 12noon on a Saturday.
Other than Derek and Carol, the team includes Lynne Brill, our vastly experienced property negotiator; Moira Steele, who handles our agency with Yorkshire Building Society; and Heather Cameron who assists in the letting department.
However, also out 'in the field' no matter the weather is Albert McLean, who completes our comprehensive and friendly property service.
To speak with one of the team about renting, leasing, buying or selling a property, simply call them on 01436 678822.
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Our Support Staff
Dumbarton and Helensburgh Office
In addition to the qualified solicitors, the Firm also boasts a team of highly experienced legal support staff pictured below, including legal secretaries, paralegals and qualified Scottish Law Accountants. With a cumulative total of legal experience in excess of 250 years between them, you can be assured of the highest levels of service at all times.


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