Scottish Law Firms to merge

Leading law firm, Blackadders LLP and Glasgow-based Boyle Shaughnessy, solicitors are to merge on 1 April 2016.  The merged practice will have 25 partners and over 250 staff and will trade under the Blackadders banner.  Boyle Shaughnessy has particular expertise in the fields of private client, commercial and residential property. The firm will offer a full service capability for business and private clients, acting for thousands of private individuals and several national ‘household name’ businesses and charities.

Paul DevineandColin McCulloch, Directors at Boyle Shaughnessy, will become partners with Blackadders.

Johnston Clark, managing partner, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening Blackadders by joining forces with Boyle Shaughnessy, a well-known and respected law firm in Glasgow.  This will give the firm a strong presence in the major centres ofScotland, offering a full range of services from our Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Perth and Glasgow offices.  Our growth into a national firm will create increased strength and depth of client service.”

Mr Clark said that the merger with Boyle Shaughnessy was motivated by a desire to establish a Blackadders office in the west coast of Scotland to service its existing client base and to develop new business within the region.

Paul Devine, director at Boyle Shaughnessy commented “There is a clear fit between our cultures; we share with Blackadders partners a vision of the highest quality of advice and service to our clients. The merger allows us to provide a wider range of services to our existing and future clients, who we would normally have to refer on to others if we did not have the relevant expertise in-house. Joining with Blackadders gives us the ability to provide our clients with the complete legal service.”

This latest move follows the recent successful mergers between Blackadders and the Edinburgh practice of Colin Blaikie and the long-established Perth practice Condies.