Field Fisher Waterhouse's former managing partner Moira Gilmour has died, after being diagnosed with cancer late last year.

Gilmour (pictured), who was a partner at Field Fisher for 14 years, passed away at the weekend (11 February). A real estate lawyer, Gilmour joined the City firm through its 1998 merger with Allison & Humphreys, going on to become managing partner in April 2006.

She stepped down from the management post last year, with the firm's regulatory head Matthew Lohn replacing her as managing partner.

As one of only a handful of female leaders of large UK law firms Gilmour oversaw a period of significant growth at Field Fisher, with turnover increasing from £60m to £94m over her time at the helm. The firm also expanded in Europe, opening offices in Germany, Belgium and France.

Field Fisher senior partner Nicholas Thompsell said: "This is extremely sad news for us all and our thoughts and prayers are with Moira's family. Moira was a key figure at the firm, building a tremendously successful career as a real estate lawyer and leading the real estate department for a number of years before becoming the firm's managing partner in 2006.

"She was highly respected by clients and colleagues and was dedicated to the firm. She will be greatly missed."

Gilmour did not have a typical City lawyer background – her parents had a shop, while her grandparents were coal miners. She grew up on a council estate, and went to the local comprehensive. When she went to Glasgow University to study modern language and philosophy on a scholarship she became the first person in her family to go to university.

She later started her legal career as a construction litigator, going on to specialise in development work during the 1980s. She qualified as a lawyer in 1981 at McGrigor Donald, going on to join Nabarro in 1985. She also spent time as a partner at Kennedys.