TWO Glasgow-based law firms are aiming for growth in staff numbers and fee income after unveiling a merger, as the process of consolidation in the legal profession continues.
Hill Brown, which can trace its roots to 1750, has combined with Miller Samuel in a move that is expected to pave the way for growth at the enlarged business.
The Miller Samuel Hill Brown operation will be able to offer clients a wider range of services than the firms could individually.
Hill Brown is best known for its expertise in the licensed trade while Miller Samuel specialises in areas such as employment law.
Chairman Michael Samuel said the firms had shared many clients.
The enlarged business has begun life with 13 partners and a further 50 staff members.
The merger will allow the firm to achieve cost savings. All staff will be based in what was Miller Samuel’s office on Renfield Street.
However, Peter Lawson, a partner in the enlarged firm, said the merger had not involved any redundancies.
He said: ”I expect that, with our strengthened offering in terms of both personnel and services, fee income and staff numbers will continue to rise in the months and years to come."
There has been a series of mergers among smaller Scottish law firms in recent years, amid challenging trading conditions in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and the ensuing recession. This was followed by a big drop in transactions work.
Law firms have been required to invest in expensive IT systems to help them comply with growing regulation.
Last year RSB macdonald and Lindsays merged. In 2014 Thorntons combined with Murray Donald and Steel Eldridge Stewart.
Some of Scotland’s biggest firms have been swept up in the consolidation process in response to factors such as growing internationalisation and clients specifying minimum turnover levels for tenders.
McGrigors and Dundas & Wilson of Scotland combined with Pinsent Masons and CMS Cameron McKenna, both of whom were based outside the country.
Founded in 1975, Miller Samuel had nine partners and 31 staff before the merger. Hill Brown had four partners and 19 staff.
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