Three Scottish firms enter merger agreements

Manchester-based business law firm DWF has announced plans to merge with Scottish commercial law firm Biggart Baillie from 1 July. This is the third merger announced by DWF in the past six months, following on from its merger with Newcastle insurance firm Crutes at the end of last year and with Birmingham insurance specialist Buller Jeffries in April. Biggart Baillie brings offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow to the deal, along with its 40-strong partnership. Meanwhile, two other Scottish firms have also announced merger plans: Dundee-based firm Blackadders will be joining up with Edinburgh-based McKay Norwell on 18 June. The combined law firms will operate under the Blackadders name, with 17 partners and 150 support staff, and an annual turnover of £8.5 million. Donald Hutcheson, chairman of Blackadders, said: “We are delighted to further strengthen Blackadders for the future by joining forces with McKay Norwell who are well known and respected throughout Scotland and are very much a part of the Edinburgh legal scene. “We and they are a good fit in every respect and this merger creates many opportunities for development of our business, dispute resolution, property and private client divisions.”

Three Scottish firms enter merger agreements business7.co.uk Fri, Jun 8, 2012