Johanna Boyd has led the team at Planning Aid Scotland since last year. 

A Scottish third sector lawyer will join a leading public law barristers chambers as a planning specialist. 

Johanna Boyd of Planning Aid Scotland will become part of Cornerstone Barristers as an associate member.

Boyd is dual-qualified as both a Scottish solicitor and (non-pracitising) English barrister. 

She previously practised at Cornerstone for ten years between 1999-2010, specialising in planning, public law, and local government law.

The firm have said she will continue to be based in Scotland and won’t be taking on cases, but will be affiliated with the chambers in her role as a planning specialist in Scotland.

Joint head of chambers, Philip Coppel KC and Tom Cosgrove KC, said: “We are delighted that Johanna has joined the Cornerstone team as an associate member.

“In her role at Planning Aid Scotland, she is playing a crucial role in empowering communities to shape the future of their place in an impartial, open and inclusive way.”

Boyd has also been the chief executive of Planning Aid Scotland since October 2022, a charity and social enterprise founded in 1993 which helps members of the public, community groups and business start-ups to navigate the planning system.

Johanna Boyd said: “Over a decade ago, I worked alongside the incredibly talented and supportive people that make up Cornerstone Barristers.

“I am very happy to continue that association and look forward to finding ways to collaborate with Cornerstone colleagues.”