LAW firm Gillespie Macandrew has posted a four per cent rise in turnover helped by a surge in income at its land and rural division.

The private client, house-building, commercial and energy teams were also said to have contributed to the increase.

Turnover for the 12 months to February 28 this year was at £9.58 million, up from £9.2m.

The land and rural revenue was up by 20 per cent from £1.63m to £1.97m, while the firm's Perth office, opened in summer 2012, contributed £600,000 across the year. Operating profit was three per cent up and rose from £2.65m to almost £2.75m. The firm said it had 22 partners in the year with average profit per partner at £124,000, up from £121,000.

Managing partner Ian Turnbull said: "It is a good, solid performance during a time of continuing challenge and change within the legal profession in Scotland."

Mr Turnbull said the firm was looking to continue to expand, and was aiming to add people in both its locations.

He said: "We are continuing to push ahead with our investment in good-quality people at all levels and we are actively looking to recruit in several areas.

"For example, the Private Client team has done well, particularly on offering tax advice to clients, and we are looking to add to its personnel, both in Edinburgh and Perth, as well as reshaping our proposition to meet client demands and a changing market."

Mr Turnbull was also pleased by the contribution from the Perth office, and sees potential for further expansion, having already attracted some new clients.

He said: "This includes a good mix of landed estates, farming and forestry clients and it has helped us extend geographically, north into Angus and west into Argyll."

Along with that Mr Turnbull was encouraged by the improvements seen in the house-building sector. He said: "In 2011, at a challenging time in the construction market, we made the decision to expand our house-builder team and this has produced a most encouraging return. In the past year we have added several new clients in this sector, including three national house-building companies."