Addleshaw Goddard to grow HBJ Aberdeen office following merger

Addleshaw Goddard will prioritise growth in Aberdeen when it takes over HBJ Gateley at the beginning of next month, The Herald reports.

On May 31 HBJ’s referral relationship with English firm, Gateley, will come to an end. Senior partner Malcolm McPherson will become Addleshaw Goddard’s senior partner in Scotland.

“Our stated aim is to grow in Scotland and I would hope to take a lead role in that,” he said.

“Aberdeen is a small office and we will be focused very much on recruitment up there. It’s been a difficult time for Aberdeen but it’s important to be represented there.

“With the strength of Addleshaw Goddard in oil and gas and energy work there are going to be increased opportunities based on that.”

John Joyce, managing partner of Addleshaw Goddard, said the firm as a whole would be looking at a list of clients where an Addleshaw partner could be added to the HBJ Gateley client relationship team or an HBJ partner to an Addleshaws team.

“What we will want very early on is for all of us to get to see our most significant clients,” he said.

Four other HBJ partners will join Mr McPherson on the Addleshaws board: Miles Ede, David Kirchin, Alan Shanks and Simon Catto.