Scotch Whisky Association appoints new legal counsel

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has appointed Sophie Airth as a legal counsel, where she will join its award-winning legal team of five lawyers and two paralegals.

Ms Airth joins SWA from Brodies LLP, where she was a senior solicitor specialising in Real Estate Litigation.

This year the SWA legal team have celebrated the strengthening of legal protections for Scotch Whisky around the world, including the first registration of a UK product in the Philippines and the first foreign Denomination of Origin in Brazil since 2019.

Last year the SWA legal team was awarded the best Not-For-Profit Organisation Team of the Year at the World Trademark Review Awards in Singapore - the third time in five years that the SWA has won the award.

Alan Park, Director of Legal Affairs for the Scotch Whisky Association said: “We’re delighted to have Sophie join us in our work safeguarding Scotch Whisky around the world.

As we continue to protect the reputation of our national product and stop the trade of fake Scotch Whisky, Sophie’s experience will enhance our work and help us meet the challenges we face on a global scale.”

Sophie Airth said: "I'm delighted to join the SWA and look forward to contributing to the vital work carried out by its legal team which is renowned for protecting the Scotch Whisky industry worldwide."

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New SWA Legal Counsel Sophie Airth

 Notes to Editors

For more information, contact pressoffice@swa.org.uk

A headshot of Sophie Airth can be found here

About the Scotch Whisky Association

The Scotch Whisky Association is the trade association representing 94 member companies across the Scotch Whisky industry.  There are 151 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries in Scotland, supporting more than 66,000 jobs through the UK supply chain, with 41,000 in Scotland. The industry generates £7.1 billion in gross added value to the UK economy annually and is the UK’s No.1 food and drink export.