Willie was born in St. Andrews and attended Robert Gordon's College in Aberdeen before going on to study law at Aberdeen University. After graduating he moved to Inverness and completed his legal apprenticeship with another firm in the town before joining Munro & Noble in 1978.

For many years Willie has specialised in Commercial Property and in particular Commercial Leasing. Acting for Tenants, Landlords and Institutions he has acquired unusually broad experience in this field for a solicitor practising in a provincial firm. In addition, he is interested in the complex field of Residential Leasing.