The public inquiry into disgraced ex-NHS Tayside surgeon Sam Eljamel has appointed a new lead solicitor.
Lynn Carey took on the senior role after Ciara Pang quit last month before the probe had started.
But what can we expect from Ms Carey in the important post, and what’s her legal background?
What experience does new Eljamel lead solicitor have?
Ms Carey studied law at Glasgow University and qualified as a solicitor in 2010.
She has spent much of her career working in public inquiries.
Ms Carey was serving as the Eljamel inquiry’s assistant solicitor before she was elevated to the top role.
She was previously the lead solicitor for around 300 Scottish patients who were included in the UK infected blood inquiry.
Before that the top lawyer represented contaminated blood victims in the earlier Penrose inquiry, which looked at Hepatitis C and HIV infections.
More recently she worked with the Scottish Covid-19 inquiry.
That means she has plenty of experience for the probe into why rogue Eljamel was able to harm victims for so long while employed by NHS Tayside.
What has Ms Carey said about the job?
Ms Carey said she is “delighted” to take on the new senior role.
“I hope that my previous experience will help to ensure that the inquiry meets its commitment to putting patients at the centre of the inquiry,” she said.
On why she finds public inquiry work interesting, Ms Carey added: “It’s rewarding to work on something where you feel like you make a big difference to people and in some cases get them the answers they’ve been waiting a long time for.”
Lord Weir, the Eljamel inquiry chairman, welcomed her appointment.
He said: “Ms Carey’s broad experience of acting over a period of many years for large numbers of vulnerable clients will be invaluable to the work of this inquiry.”
What does role involve?
The Eljamel inquiry’s legal team is being lead by Jamie Dawson KC, who acts as senior counsel.
Along with chair Lord Weir, he will largely be the public face of the investigation into the disgraced surgeon who harmed patients.
But the lead solicitor plays a vital role behind the scenes.
Ms Carey will help spearhead a larger team of solicitors, dealing with any legal problems as they arise, and will help drive the inquiry forward alongside the chair and senior counsel.
Why did predecessor quit?
Ms Pang’s exit was announced to patients in May.
No specific reason was given.
Lord Weir had been well-aware of her plans to depart in advance.
The inquiry team assured patients a replacement would be found quickly.
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