Brodies announces leadership change after two decades
One of Scotland’s leading law firms has today announced that its managing partner is to step down after 20 years in the role and nearly 40 years with the practice.
Brodies, the largest indigenous law firm north of the Border, said Bill Drummond’s departure will coincide with the end of its current financial year in April, handing over the reins to partner Nick Scott on 1 May.
Brodies said Drummond’s two decades as managing partner “has delivered unrivalled business performance”. Over that time it has grown from about 175 people trading from a single office in Edinburgh to 616 staff and further sites in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Brussels. In the year to April 2017 its turnover amounted to £66.7 million.
Drummond told The Scotsmanthatsuchgrowthwasdue to “listening to clients first and foremost, working out what they wanted, investing in the services that they wanted, and trying to deliver them to the best of our ability”. 0 Bill Drummond is stepping down as managing partner
It is “not a complicated formula”, the 58-year-old added. “Listen to your market, take account of what’s going on in the economy, invest appropriately – and don’t give up.”
As for his next move, he is not actively considering any role other taking a “decent spell” off from the legal world. He plans to enjoy more time for himself and his family over the spring and summer, and will then decide his next steps. “I have no specific objectives.”
Drummond trained with Brodies in 1980, becoming a partner in 1986 and was first elected managing partner in 1997, subsequently re-elected six times.
He also welcomed his successor. “I am extremely pleased that Nick will be taking things forward with a clear vision of how Brodies can continue to develop as a business founded on that client-first agenda.”
Scott trained with Clifford Chance in London, joining Brodies in 1999, and becoming a partner in 2001. Since 2010 he has led the firm’s real estate practice, and in that time this part of the business has seen turnover double.
He said it is a “great thrill” to be taking on the post. “I have worked closely with Bill for over a decade. He has been recognised repeatedly as one of the leading law firm managers of his generation in the UK. It is therefore with pride, and an appropriate degree of humility, that I take on this new role.”
The company in November finalised its strategic plan for the 2018-21 period, which Scott said identifies “continued opportunities” for Brodies across its entire range of services.
His immediate focus will be the likes of continued investment in services relevant to the Scottish economy and recruiting. “We remain proud of both our Scottish roots and of our international reach, and are optimistic about the opportunities ahead for wellrun independent law firms.”