Friends Legal Edinburgh
“It`s the largest law firm in the county in terms of footprint and headcount, but it may have lost market share in recent years. Our goal is to put it firmly back on the map by offering premium services at a fair price. This is our top priority, and we will need to recruit to achieve these goals. The acquisition will also allow Friends Legal to provide additional legal services to consumers, particularly in the areas of transfer and remortgage. From its head office in Glasgow and another office in Edinburgh, it already offers services for personal injury and medical negligence. Alan Borrowman added: “We would also like to warmly thank our loyal customers for their continued support and assure them that this merger will mean that Garden Stirling Burnet will continue to be a leading legal presence here in East Lothian. By joining the Friends Legal network, our range of legal services for clients will become even more specialized and yet accessible. The name Garden Stirling Burnet will be retained and will at the same time be part of the Friends Legal network. It dates back to the founding of the law firm of Stirling and Burnet in the early 1900s.
In 2015, it changed from a partnership to a limited liability company headed by the three current directors. Tony O`Malley, Managing Partner, said: “The company is already very strong in the automotive market, but Val`s expertise and contact with eye damage will also allow us to build a good reputation in a niche market relatively quickly.” The acquisition of Garden Stirling Burnet – known as GSB – creates a business with a turnover of over £7 million and 60 employees in six offices across Scotland. The turnover of the company, which works for some of the UK`s largest insurance companies, has grown by more than 60% year-on-year. Investing in East Lothian`s 22-person team in its four offices in Dunbar, Haddington, North Berwick and Trarent will support ambitions to double its workforce and turnover in three years. BrewDog will open the biggest venue ever and early visitors could win a $1 million bar Roberts added: “I am thrilled to join Friends Legal at such an exciting time. It`s a relatively new law firm that does things differently, treats employees well, and focuses on great results for clients. “This is our top priority and we need to recruit to achieve these goals,” he added. It increased its turnover by £2.5 million to £6.6 million before pandemic-related lockdowns disrupted the core business of losses from high-volume car accidents. He then turned around by founding By Your Side. Success prompted him to look for acquisition opportunities to serve many of the referral leads generated. Do you want to join the conversation? Please register or log in to comment on this article.
“It`s the right deal at the right time and it will be fantastic for the dedicated and hard-working team we`ve built at GSB over the years. As directors, this is very important to us and we are excited about the company`s long-term plans and prospects and the role we play in the community. Friends Legal has acquired East Lothian`s largest law firm and estate agent. It provides Glasgow-based Friends Legal with an important platform to create one of the largest specialist retail clients in Scotland. Who is the richest person in the world? Top 10 World`s Richest People 2022 “This is the right deal at the right time and it will be fantastic for the dedicated and hard-working team we have built at GSB over many years. Friends Legal already offers wills and powers of attorney directly to consumers through its By Your Side service. Mr. O`Malley built his career as a litigator at the Edinburgh law firm of Henderson Boyd Jackson, where he successfully led the volume claims department. He then set up Friends Legal by leading the Scottish MBO of the Parabis Group, the Parabis Group, which is struggling in the UK when it comes to personal injury.
The Edinburgh office is led by Val Roberts, described as one of Scotland`s best-known personal injury experts, who will also lead the new eye injury negligence team. Roberts has been representing victims of accidents, occupational diseases and clinical negligence since 1993. “As directors, this is very important to us and we are excited about the company`s long-term plans and prospects and the role we play in the community.” Friends Legal has established its first capital base on Leith`s Bonnington Road following a series of contracts where the growth in injury damage has doubled over the past two years. Tony O`Malley, Managing Partner of Friends Legal, said: “We will re-establish GSB in the local market by investing in its people, infrastructure and brand. M. O`Malley, who founded the Friends Legal brand in 2016, is pleased that GSB directors Alan Borrowman, Angela Craig and Ian Philp will remain with the firm for at least a year. New consulting roles will give them the opportunity to focus on the work they enjoy while improving work-life balance. Edinburgh-based tech company behind innovative car hire platform secures £1.4m injection As part of the deal, the Garden Stirling Burnet name will be retained on disclosed financial terms while being part of the Friends Legal network. While Garden, Stirling and Burnet is best known for its work as a real estate agency, management and property transfer, unlocking the potential of its entire retail banking team, including family law and the rental industry, will be a priority.