Catherine Hart: An educator, trailblazer, champion and friend

It is with deep sadness Digby Brown shares the news of the death of our much loved and respected colleague Catherine Hart, Partner and head of the firm’s Professional Support department, following a short illness. 

Catherine graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1988 and completed her diploma there before taking on a traineeship at Wright, Johnston & Mackenzie. She then took up a role with Hamilton, Burns & Moore and subsequently HBM Sayers, working closely with George Moore in civil litigation.

Her move to Biggart Baillie in 2007 saw Catherine develop even further, expanding her role as a civil litigation lawyer to now lead on professional support where she could analyse the latest legal updates and decisions of the Court, assessing their impact on the legal frontline, organising and providing training, and writing about her work. She had a real talent and dedication to authorship.

It was this pioneering work in professional support that led Catherine to Digby Brown where in 2014 she became what is thought to be the first dedicated full-time professional support solicitor in Scotland for a pursuer firm in personal injury. 

She grew and defined the PSL role supporting legal teams with complex cases across all areas of practice including specialist teams like historic abuse, catastrophic injury, clinical negligence, industrial disease and accidents abroad. She developed expertise in risk and compliance as well as developing the firm’s knowledge management resource and leading on the firm’s practice standards work. She also oversaw the development of the firm’s trainees. The value and strength she brought to the firm meant that just three years later she was appointed as a Digby Brown Partner where she further enhanced the role, ultimately leading a team of four. Her abilities were recognised at national events where she contributed and spoke on professional support and knowledge management.

Catherine took great pride in helping people develop, harness their potential and empower social mobility. She maintained close links with the University of Glasgow as a tutor on the Diploma course and taught on the Law School’s CPD programme which she also helped develop. 

In 2016 she was appointed to sit on the Scottish Solicitors Discipline Tribunal, becoming Vice-Chair in 2021. Catherine was appointed as a First Tier Tribunal Judge in September 2025. 

She cared deeply about supporting people with their mental health and candidly spoke about her own challenges. Catherine worked with the Law Society of Scotland to better support the emotional wellbeing of the legal community, becoming an accredited mental health first aider and in 2019 the charity LawCare made her a mental health champion. 

But Catherine wasn’t just respected and admired for her professional proficiency - she was a dear friend to so many both in and out with the firm and went out of her way to raise the spirits of those around her. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Catherine helped keep staff connected by running quizzes and launched the Digby Brown Book Club – a social initiative which unified staff of all seven offices during what was an otherwise difficult time to stay connected. She always knew what people needed and even took on the role of Christmas Elf which showed her wicked sense of humour as she would lead tongue-in-cheek debates for entrants to the “naughty and nice list”. She never did disclose her rulings though!

Passionate about supporting young women, Catherine shared her career journey and some of the difficulties she faced working in a male dominated sector in the 1990s. In 2019 she was recognised as one of the trailblazing women in law as part of a project marking the centenary of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act 1919. Catherine often spoke about the women in law who inspired her, and she became that person to many people.

Fraser Oliver, Chief Executive at Digby Brown said: “Catherine was a real trailblazer. 

“She combined resilience, intellect and compassion with a deep commitment to supporting others and improving the profession for those who follow. 

“She was a tremendous role model.”

Gordon Dalyell, Partner at the firm and close friend and colleague of Catherine, added: “Catherine was an exceptional lawyer. 

“She had a real passion for not just the law, but the sharing of knowledge and encouraging others, especially younger lawyers, to develop their skills. 

“She was devoted to helping her colleagues, and by extension, their clients. Nothing was ever too much trouble. 

“She had a strong moral compass, which defined her approach to life. There are many people across the profession, whose careers have benefited significantly as a result of engagement with Catherine. 

“She will be hugely missed by so many.”

A celebration of Catherine’s life was held at Linn Crematorium on Thursday 13th August 2026 at 10am. A funeral reception then took place at House for an Art Lover.

A dedicated memorial site has been set up where friends and colleagues, past and present, are invited to share posts and remember Catherine in their own way.