Anderson Strathern returns to growth following small turnover dip

Anderson Strathern experienced a small decrease in turnover in the financial year to 31st August 2016, partly impacted by Brexit, with the top line off by three per cent at £21 million against the previous year. In spite of a marginal slowdown in the corporate and commercial property practices during the middle of 2016, the firm has returned to growth in 2017 boosted by a series of client wins including the Scottish government, Glasgow City Council, Disclosure Scotland, National Galleries Scotland, BBC Alba, Parole Board for Scotland, Prestwick Airport, Avis, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, and the National Library of Scotland.

2015/2016 saw Anderson Strathern complete two mergers, with law firms Jeffrey Aitken and ADLP and a number of senior hires, including the appointment of John Brett from Aberdeen Asset Management as chief executive to head up Anderson Strathern Asset Management. It was a significant year of investment in people, technology and brand for Anderson Strathern, the benefits of which are coming through in 2017.

Murray McCall , recently re-appointed as managing partner, said: “We are pleased to have weathered some of the political uncertainty last year and produced a very steady set of numbers in the circumstances. 2016 was an important year for Anderson Strathern, with significant investment in our people, mergers and lateral hires, technology and a major rebranding exercise. At our half-year point, we’re up on the previous year so we’re encouraged to see the growth coming through.”

In March last year, Anderson Strathern became the first law firm in Scotland to be accredited as both “Investor in People Gold” and “Investor in Young People Gold”, launched the first dedicated Brexit group by a Scottish legal firm last summer and, this year, launched an advocacy and legal opinions unit headed up by Robert Carr, who recently retired as chair after 12 years in the role, with Bruce Farquhar taking up that post.

Mr Farquhar said: “Anderson Strathern continues to build its pre-eminent offering across commercial, public sector and private practice and our investment across the firm has put Anderson Strathern in a strong position for future growth.”