Aberdein Considine had multiple reasons to celebrate yesterday as it accelerated plans to become one of the biggest law firms in Scotland.
It announced the appointment of its first chief financial officer (CFO), unveiled a new partner and eight promotions, officially opened new offices in Aberdeen and revealed plans for a new legal centre in Glasgow.
The firm, which is also redeveloping its headquarters in Bon Accord Crescent, Aberdeen, aims to grow turnover from £20million to £35million over the next five years – potentially creating more than 100 new jobs as it continues to grow its property, legal and financial services divisions across Scotland.
Its new property centre at 420-425 Union Street, a pension advice centre across the road, the plans for Glasgow and the work already underway at HQ represent a £1million-plus investment.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon officially opened the new Granite City offices, describing Aberdein Considine as one of Scotland’s most exciting law firms.
She added: “This has created Aberdeen’s largest property, legal and financial centre in the heart of the city.
“Scotland has a proud and distinguished history in providing traditional values of integrity and fairness in the legal sector and Aberdein Considine is a significant part of that sector as a top 10 Scottish law firm in terms of both fee earners and turnover.
“The legal sector contributes more than £1billion to the Scottish economy every year, and as the industry continues to evolve with alternative business models Scotland is ideally placed to support future growth.”
Aberdein Considine’s latest expansion comes just months after it launched into a fifth city, Stirling, with the acquisition of Muirhead Buchanan for an undisclosed sum.
The new Glasgow office will be the north-east firm’s second in the city and 19th in Scotland.
Managing partner Jacqueline Law said the investment in Aberdeen gave the business a “real high-profile presence” in Europe’s energy capital, adding: “With the changes to pension regulations coming in April, we also felt it was important to make advice easily available on the high street.”
New CFO John Perry has joined from accountancy giant Baker Tilly, where he led the UK restructuring and recovery commercial finance team.
The new partner is Legal 500-listed Paul Jennings, who Aberdein Considine described as “one of the country’s foremost commercial property lawyers”.
Mr Jennings grew up in Aberdeen but now lives in the central belt. He was the managing partner of Edinburgh and Glasgow commercial property specialist Bell and Scott before it merged with Anderson Strathern in 2011.
To support expansion, Aberdein Considine has also promoted eight of its lawyers.
The firm, established in 1981, now employs more than 350 people across offices in Aberdeen, Banchory, Ellon, Inverurie, Peterhead, Stonehaven, Westhill, Bathgate, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Livingston, Perth and Stirling.