The Scotsman

Anderson Strathern mulls more deals

● Law firm eyeing inorganic growth and hiring amid recent client wins

- By EMMA NEWLANDS emma.newlands@jpimedia.co.uk

Legal firm Anderson Strathern has bolstered its client roster and it plans to recruit in coming months as it considers further merger and acquisitio­n (M&A) activity.

The Edinburgh-head quartered firm, which also has offices in East Lothian and Glasgow, has just completed its latest financial year and says it is set to report a “steady” revenue performanc­e this November in spite of a challengin­g business environmen­t since the onset of Covid-19.

The University of St ra thclyde, City of Edinburgh Council, and the Scottish Parlia - mentar y Corporate Body are among recent tender wins, complement­ing its client base that includes the Scottish Government, Ineos,Bu cc leuch Estates, Glasgow City Council and Apex Hotels.

Anderson Strathern managing partner Murray Mccall praised the firm’s 53 partners and 251 employees for enabling the firm to navigate “such a challengin­g time in recent months ”. He added: “With our promotions this year, we are strengthen­ing the firm’s offering to help busi

ness recovery and individual­s. As work and life adapts to the Covid pandemic, we’re finding that it’s driving demand for a range of legal services.”

He addressed the firm’ s M&A strategy, after it completed a series of merger sin recent years, including a bolton deal with Glasgow- headquarte­red Hardy Macp hail about a year ago. He said: “We also continue to look at ways to add growth by way of acquisitio­n, in addition to organic growth, and we’re not ruling out further activity herein

the months ahead. One good thing to have come out of the pandemic is the focus on new ways of working, and what we’ve realised is that this new work dynamic is presenting us with opportunit­ies to add geographic footprint and routes into other regional markets around Scotland.”

Anderson St rat he rn has promoted 18 fee-earners in its latest round of promotions, including at senior solicitor, associate and senior associate levels, and is planning to actively recruit mores enior and junior-level staff over the next 12 months to match increasing activity across a number of practice areas.

Mccall added that the firm is looking for people at all stages and levels of experience to support it though its next growth phase.

He continued: “We now have establishe­d pre-eminent practices across commercial, public sector and private client, and when you look across the practice groups they have all been impacted by C ovid in some way.

“While private client, restructur­ing and employment law activity stepped up significan­tly during lockdown, other areas like corporate deal activity, routine commercial real estate and residentia­l property were definitely hit hard in the early days but are now rebounding strongly.”

It comes after Anderson Strathern announced that it had launched a business resilience unit during the Covid-19 crisis to support clients and business leaders across Scotland.

Furthermor­e, a year ago the firm announced record fullyear results as it continued to secure high-profile work. It said it had increased revenue by 7 per cent to £24.4 million, while net profits for the year to the end of August were up 28 per cent to £8.9m.

“We also continue to look at ways to add growth by way of acquisitio­n… and we’re not ruling out further activity here in the months ahead.” MURRAY MCCALL

 ??  ?? 0 Promoted staff (from left) Danielle Edgar, Fionn Blair, Robin Turnbull and Laura Mccabe
0 Promoted staff (from left) Danielle Edgar, Fionn Blair, Robin Turnbull and Laura Mccabe

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