Scottish Lawyers Make Major Private Client Move

Scottish Lawyers Make Major Private Client Move

Scottish law firm Harper MacLeod has done a deal with a private client specialist Bird Semple that will lead to considerable expansion in turnover for the law firm which will have one of the largest private client practices in Scotland.

Bird Semple, which can trace its roots back to 1845 and has its main office on Blytheswood Square in Glasgow, has a turnover of around £2.1 million.

At the moment it provides a range of specialist services including wills and succession, asset protection, wealth management and personal taxation.

Bird Semple’s 35 employees, including six partners as well as other lawyers and support staff, will relocate to Harper Macleod’s Ca’d’oro building on Gordon Street in Glasgow on September 1.

Once there they will combine with the existing private client team. Harper Macleod has taken steps to make room for the additional numbers by increasing the office space at its headquarters by around 15 per cent as part of a refurbishment programme.

It is thought likely the Bird Semple brand name will be retained.

Harper Macleod, the legal adviser for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The firm hopes to grow its private client operation from its other locations, in Edinburgh and Inverness, on the back of the partnership with Bird Semple.

Lorne Crerar, chairman of Harper Macleod, said: “Bird Semple helps us to extend our private client offering in wealth management, age management and there is a tax angle which we haven’t had before.

“It really does extend our reach and expertise in that area of work.

“There is a strong business case for Harper Macleod, and Bird Semple [has] very nice people, who I think we will get on well with.”

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