Business Details
30 Years
experience
Trusted Legal Services in Dumbarton
Established in 1996, Cairns Brown is a Scottish law firm with offices in Alexandria, Dumbarton, and Helensburgh. Our practice spans criminal defence, family law, conveyancing, and civil litigation, supported by a team with decades of combined legal expertise. We prioritise personalised service, tailoring solutions to individual client needs while maintaining accessibility across three regional locations.Our lawyers hold accreditations from bodies like the Law Society of Scotland and have represented clients in high-profile cases, including utility disputes and complex family court matters. With a focus on transparency and integrity, we deliver cost-effective legal strategies grounded in local knowledge and national experience.
Services
Conveyancing
Wills
Powers of Attorney
Family Law
Personal Injury
Criminal Defense
Mediation
Executries
Guardianships
Road Traffic Offences
Details
- Year established: 1996
Highlights and features
- We have over 25 years of experience in Scottish legal practice
- Our team includes Law Society-accredited mediators and specialists in family law
- We operate from three accessible locations across West Scotland
- Our lawyers have handled cases in Scotland's High Court and Sheriff courts
- We guarantee transparent pricing with no hidden fees
Associations and certifications
- Law Society of Scotland
What people say
Excellent legal advice
Efficient and helpful
Best by far
Successful outcomes
Prioritised child's interests
Services
Conveyancing
We handle residential property transactions including sales, purchases, and mortgage work. Our conveyancing team provides confidential, timely service with transparent fee structures. Hannah Pearson and Gillian Bowman lead this practice, ensuring smooth property transfers while advising on legal obligations and protections.
Family Law
Specialising in separation agreements, divorce proceedings, and child custody matters, our family law team offers strategic representation. Gillian Bowman, a Family Law Association member, handles financial settlements and interdict applications while prioritising clients' long-term interests through negotiation or court action.
Criminal Defense
Stephen Maguire leads our criminal defence practice with over 25 years' experience in Sheriff courts and High Court trials. We represent clients facing charges from road traffic offences to serious criminal allegations, maintaining a strong track record in defending clients' rights across Scotland.
Powers of Attorney
We prepare and register legal documents enabling trusted representatives to manage affairs during incapacity. Our guidance ensures compliance with Scottish legal requirements while creating tailored solutions for future care planning and asset management.
Personal Injury
We handle workplace accidents, public liability claims, and medical negligence cases. Our team pursues compensation through legal aid or no-win-no-fee arrangements, leveraging a national network of specialists to secure fair outcomes for injury victims.
People
Kenneth McGowan
Criminal Defence Solicitor
Qualified in 2007, Kenneth specialises in criminal defence and children's court representation. With ten years' Glasgow experience, he now serves Alexandria clients, focusing on serious criminal cases and proceeds of crime matters.
Gillian Bowman
Family Law Specialist
Qualified in 2014, Gillian focuses on family law including financial settlements and child custody. Accredited mediator with experience in general civil litigation, practicing from Dumbarton and Helensburgh offices.
Stephen Maguire
Senior Criminal Lawyer
With over 25 years' experience, Stephen handles complex criminal defence cases across Scotland. His expertise spans serious criminal trials, representing clients in Sheriff and High Courts with a strong advocacy record.
Amanda Kelly
Children's Law Specialist
Qualified in 2013, Amanda specialises in children's law including adoption and child protection cases. She provides guidance across criminal and civil matters from Alexandria and Dumbarton offices.
Hannah Pearson
Conveyancing Solicitor
Qualified in 2019, Hannah practices conveyancing and private client work including wills and guardianships. Based in Helensburgh, she also serves clients across all offices, holding a University of Glasgow law diploma.
Questions
What areas of law do you specialise in?
We specialise in family law, conveyancing, criminal defence, personal injury claims, and estate planning through wills and powers of attorney.
Do you offer legal aid services?
Yes, we accept legal aid for eligible clients in family law, criminal defence, and personal injury cases.
What experience do you have in criminal cases?
Our team has over 25 years' experience handling criminal cases from road traffic offences to High Court trials across Scotland.
Can you help with property transactions?
Yes, our conveyancing team handles residential sales, purchases, and mortgage work with competitive pricing.
How do you handle child custody matters?
Gillian Bowman, our accredited family law specialist, manages custody cases with focus on children's best interests through mediation or court action.
