Thorntons merges with Fife legal firm in further expansion

Dundee-based Thorntons, one of Scotland’s largest legal firms, is merging with Clarkson Hamilton of Kirkcaldy to expand its reach down the east coast.

The firm will be known as Thorntons, and all of Clarkson Hamilton’s employees will remain following the merger on June 1.

Grant Hamilton will remain a partner in the firm, while Graeme Clarkson will become a consultant.

Thorntons joint managing partner Craig Nicol, said: “Bringing Clarkson Hamilton and Thorntons together will greatly strengthen and expand our service for clients.

“Our commitment to clients is to deliver a complete, first class legal service locally in all of our locations.

“Grant and Graeme have been growing a thriving practice in Kirkcaldy and we are looking forward to working with them to help build on that in the coming years.”

Mr Nicol said the merger will bring strengthened legal specialist services to the area in property, wills and estate planning.

“We will also expand our estate agency operation into the Kirkcaldy area offering sellers access to our large branch network and database of active buyers,” he said.

Specialist business law teams will also have a presence in Kirkcaldy, with employment, commercial property and immigration services becoming available.

Kirkcaldy was one of the fastest growing towns in Scotland, and Mr Nicol said: “We believe there’s great potential for our business there.”

Grant Hamilton said: “We have a great number of shared goals, priorities and a desire to offer clients only the very best level of service.

“I am looking forward to developing the business in Kirkcaldy and also spending part of the week in our Anstruther office meeting clients. ”

Having merged with Steel Eldridge Stewart and Murray Donald in 2014 and Watts Law last year, Thorntons now has 41 partners across offices in Dundee, St Andrews, Cupar, Edinburgh, Anstruther, Kirkcaldy, Perth, Arbroath, Montrose and Forfar.