Gilson Gray Swoops on Residential Conveyancing Team

Scotland’s fastest growing new full service law firm is once again expanding, having acquired the services of an expert residential property team from an Edinburgh based competitor.

Gilson Gray – which in the past 24 months has bucked industry trends of cutbacks and mergers and has enjoyed exponential growth, has signalled its intent to further grow – this time its residential property services division, with the appointment of Deborah McCathie as a Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing.

McCathie, who spent nine years at Warners LLP, will be based primarily in the firm’s Edinburgh office and is to be tasked with further expanding the expert residential property team throughout Scotland.

A number of Mrs McCathie’s former Warners team also join Gilson Gray, including the highly experienced Emma Mackenzie, who trained at Morton Fraser and Cheryl Anderson, a Senior Solicitor who started her career at Neilsons. Other senior team members, to be appointed across the Firm’s offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, are expected to be announced shortly

Glen Gilson, Managing Partner at Gilson Gray said: “Our established property operation is committed to providing the leading residential service in Scotland. Debbie and her team have an excellent reputation and bring significant client support to the Firm. We have every faith that Debbie will take our conveyancing offering to its potential. Many firms have reduced their exposure to this field of practice in recent years, yet we believe there is a substantial opportunity in this area of work. We believe a full service law firm requires to provide such a developed capability”

“We are delighted with our rate of progress as a firm and are very grateful to our clients and the Scottish business community for its support”.

Matthew Gray, Managing Director of Property Services at Gilson Gray, said: “Our growth during our second year of operations is hugely rewarding and justifies the decision we made to go against the tide and set up ourselves.

“The property services arm of Gilson Gray is in an ideal position to grow substantially over the next two years, something we owe to the wealth of resource that we can now call upon. We continue to encourage top industry talent to look to join our firm.”

Deborah McCathie, said: “I was hugely impressed by the work atmosphere and ambition of Gilson Gray. It made for an easy decision to move and convince my trusted team that it was an exhilarating workplace to be a part of.

“The business is clearly riding a wave of positivity right now and is united by the same culture and ambition. It is very exciting to have this opportunity to develop a market leading property proposition within a full service law firm.

“I am delighted to bring my team of trusted colleagues to Gilson Gray.”

In 2014, Gilson Gray opened as the largest full service law firm launch in Scottish legal history, with a portfolio of talent poached from the leading firms in Scotland – opening simultaneously in Glasgow and Edinburgh with a radical client-focus strategy that offers a cost effective alternative to the top ten firms in the country.

Managing Partner Glen Gilson, summarised: “It is great to start 2016 with yet another exciting expansion.

“The mindset of the business remains the same as the day we started – to provide a transparently and persuasively priced service and only employ partners and staff that know how to engage properly with clients to make the service exceptional and wherever possible enjoyable.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

With offices in Edinburgh (29 Rutland Square) and Glasgow (160 West George Street), Gilson Gray offers specialist legal, property and financial services.

In addition, Gilson Gray recently acquired two financial advisory businesses in the East and West of Scotland, taking assets under management to a little short of £100m.

Gilson Gray was honoured as Full Service Firm of the Year and Leading Customer Service Firm of the Year at the ACQ Law Awards. Glen Gilson was also recognised as Managing Partner of the Year. In addition, Matthew Gray was appointed Scottish Executive for the National Association of Estate Agents, recognising him as one of the UK’s leading players in property marketing.
Issued on behalf of Gilson Gray by Holyrood Partnership. For more information contact 0131 561 2244 or info@holyroodpr.co.uk