MLM Solutions, the ­business recovery firm, aims to grow turnover by 150 per cent to £5 million in the next five years after making a move into the huge London market.

The company has recruited a London-based specialist from a rival to lead its charge into the English capital.

Charles Turner has joined MLM from FRP ­Advisory LLP, where he was a partner.

He will lead MLM's ­corporate restructuring activity in London.

Maureen Leslie, MLM solutions' founding director, said Mr Turner's appointment was a huge coup for the firm.

Describing the Scottish market as flat, Ms Leslie said the expansion into London should help the firm accelerate growth dramatically.

Ms Leslie said the recent economic recovery may have kept a lid on activity in the restructuring market in Scotland, where firms tend to be more conservative in their approach to dealing with challenges than companies in south-east England.

This means they tend to be less likely to take advice in areas like restructuring.

However, she warned that many firms have been "hanging on" during a long period when interest rates have been at historic lows.

Such firms may face problems if, as expected, the Bank of England raises the base rate from 0.5 per cent in the near future.

"We do expect more to need help when rates go up," said Ms Leslie. She said the recovery is more likely to boost activity rates in London.

"We see an opportunity in London.

"As things pick up and firms go back into mergers and acquisitions you can find the bigger corporates end up with subsidiaries that are not necessary, semi-dormant and there is scope for change in the corporate structure."

Ms Leslie believes the move into London will help MLM increase turnover by one third in the first year.

The firm expects to recruit more specialists in London in coming months.

It currently has 32 staff spread across four offices in Scotland, including Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Mr Turner is a previous president of the Insolvency Practitioners Association.

Ms Leslie was elected deputy vice president of the association this year. She will become the first Scottish woman President of the IPA in April 2016.