Long-standing Scottish law firms agree to merge
Thu, 30 Jan 2025 | MERGER
Scottish law firms Macnabs and Thorntons have agreed to merge, creating an operation with over 300 years of history between them.
Perthshire-based Macnabs, which was founded in 1880, focuses on family law, wills and estate planning, employment law, litigation, property conveyancing, as well as services for businesses.
The deal will see its five partners and 39 employees transfer to Thorntons when the merger takes place on 31 March this year.
The merged firm will be known going forward as Thorntons, which can trace its roots back to 1857. It has 14 offices across Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Perth, Fife and Angus.
According to its most recent filing to Companies House for the year to 31 May, 2023 Thorntons recorded a £37.7 million turnover.
Lesley Larg, managing partner, at Thorntons said: "This merger represents a significant milestone in our continued growth strategy, reinforcing our commitment to providing exceptional legal services across Scotland. It will further strengthen our presence across Perthshire and Stirlingshire and provide personal and business clients with access to extended legal expertise and support."
Ruth Croman, managing partner at Macnabs, said: "Thorntons is one of Scotland's leading independently owned law firms which shares our commitment to excellent client care and developing great careers for colleagues. At Macnabs we have always been ambitious and have targeted continued growth which we have done successfully, ensuring our firm was in a strong position."
Croman said that when the company entered into discussions with Thorntons, it was because it "wanted to explore what was next, and to listen to what they had to say. While a larger firm than Macnabs, it still retains a strong people-focused culture which has been evident throughout the merger discussions. It has a proven record of continued investment in its people, business and technology, and provides a strong and supportive environment for our team to thrive".
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