Two Scottish law firms ‘in merger discussions’

Two Scottish law firms are believed to be in merger talks for a potential combination that would be the sixth largest by revenue in Scotland.

Morton Fraser and Macroberts each have revenues of about £19 million, giving any enlarged firm turnover of £38m.

Both firms declined to confirm or deny the talks yesterday. Chris Harte, chief executive of Edinburgh-based Morton Fraser, said it regularly has “exploratory discussions with third parties around a wide range of potential opportunities. We don’t, however, comment on speculation regarding any such conversations which may take place from time to time”.

A spokesman for Macroberts, which has main offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh, said: “At any point we are in conversation with a number of individuals and firms and it would be inappropriate to make any comment on the existence or otherwise of any such conversations.”