December 19, 2024
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A new legal firm enjoying rapid early growth across the business has acquired two Financial Services businesses to bolster its Financial Management arm.
Gilson Gray, which launched in May this year, has announced the acquisition of A MacLeod Financial Services and the Lindsay Practice – subject to regulatory approval.
The two legacy firms, headed up by Angus Macleod and Alastair Lindsay, will immediately inject a wealth of experience into the financial management arm of the business, Gilson Gray Financial Management, and take the assets under management (AUM) to around £100million.
The double acquisition will also result in £2.4million in gross capital value being added to the balance sheet within the first two months of trading.
Gilson Gray Financial Management, which will form part of the St James’ Place (SJP) network, has ambitious plans for growth, targeting £500million AUM within five years.
The firm is now looking to acquire further financial advice businesses to realise those ambitions. Gilson Gray in general is seeking to become one of the leading law firms in Scotland over the next few years.
The company, based in both Edinburgh and Glasgow, will offer advice on mortgages, investments, pensions, protection/insurance and tax planning.
Glen Gilson, Managing Partner at Gilson Gray, says private and corporate clients will benefit from receiving expert legal and financial advice from the same firm.
He said: “Our strategy is to attract the best talent in their respective markets. Angus and Alastair’s businesses are a strong fit for us strategically and we are delighted to have them on-board.
“The full suite of services that we can now offer is compelling, allowing clients to secure expert legal and financial advice all under one roof.”
He added: “We have achieved a great deal as a business in a short period of time, and we are very grateful to our clients and contacts for the significant support received to date. However we have a lot of hard work ahead of us and we look forward to that challenge.”
Angus Macleod, based in both Glasgow and Edinburgh, has over 20 years experience in financial services and is looking forward to offering his clients more services than ever before.
He said: “There is a very obvious and natural fit between legal and financial services firms, but it’s also important to have like-minded strategies and that is very much the case with Gilson Gray.
“It’s a young and ambitious company with a fresh approach to legal and financial advice, which I’m sure my clients will benefit from a great deal.”
The Lindsay Practice, based in Edinburgh, offers a bespoke wealth management service.
Director, Alistair Lindsay, said: “The amount of regulatory change and unrest in the finance sector in recent years has led to an even greater fit between the legal and financial sectors and my clients will now have the added reassurance of having a legal practice at the spine of the business.
“Clients will have the opportunity to secure expert guidance from a team of multidisciplinary advisors who have a comprehensive perspective on their affairs and objectives.”
Gilson Gray became the biggest full-service legal firm to open in Scotland in more than 100 years when it launched in May this year, poaching some of the sharpest experts from across the country. Gilson Gray are currently a quarter of a million pounds ahead of budget for their first quarter of operations.
The firm recently appointed Rob McGregor as Associate Director of Property Sales. He joins from Pagan Osborne where he was Senior Valuer.
Glen added: “In Rob we’ve attracted yet another high calibre talent to the organisation and he is already making a noticeable impact to our property services offering.”
Many of Gilson Gray’s lawyers are dual qualified in both Scottish and English law and the firm is supported by a full complement of legal, property, financial and administrative staff.
The firm’s offices are at 29 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, and 160 West George Street, Glasgow.
