A lawyer in Dundas & Wilson's corporate recovery team has broken the record set last year by a colleague by becoming the youngest solicitor yet in Scotland to pass the insolvency industry's "excellence" exams.

Associate Sian Williams, 28, has been awarded the Insolvency Lawyers Association prize for the highest-placed lawyer sitting the exams in the UK after passing the UK Joint Insolvency Examination Board exams last week.

Last year, Fiona McKerrell became the youngest lawyer in Scotland to pass the exam at 29, and was the only person in Scotland from both the legal and accountancy professions to pass at all.

She was subsequently a finalist for the Real Business magazine professions' woman of the future award, sponsored by Shell.

The exams are a measure of business acumen and understanding. The status they confer is extremely highly sought-after in law and accountancy as there are very few lawyers who hold an insolvency licence.

Previously, licences were awarded based on seniority and experience, but recently the kudos - and the licence - can now only be achieved by passing the exam.

Ian Cuthbertson, head of corporate recovery at Dundas & Wilson, said: "There is no greater indication of proficiency in the insolvency industry than passing these exams, and to do so with such flying colours is an outstanding achievement.

"To have one associate with this remarkable success at less than 30 years old is terrific, but to have two in as many years is really testament to the quality of the young lawyers coming up through D&W.

"Sian and Fiona are a great combination, with experience and sheer business nous far beyond their years, and we're really proud to have them as part of the team."

Legal 500 research has placed Dundas & Wilson's corporate recovery team alone in the top category for several years running, including in the 2007 directory, which stated that "this insolvency powerhouse is head and shoulders above its competition".