MacRoberts announces increase in profits and turnover

MacRoberts has had another successful year, with increased profits, turnover and seven new partners.

In the year-end to April 2015, turnover was up by 2 per cent to £17.959m and profits increased by 1.3 per cent to £6.183m.

The appointment of seven new partners brought the total to 47, allowing the firm to further expand the range of specialist legal services it offers.

Additionally, the number of people the firm employs has increased by 18 per cent, nearly doubling targets for the year.

The new partners include Neil Amner, a transport and parliamentary lawyer; Martin Sales, an authority on the law relating to extraction industries; and John McGovern, who heads up the newly formed corporate defence team specialising in white collar crime.

Managing partner of MacRoberts, John Macmillan said: “The most impressive aspect of our annual results is that we continued to increase turnover and profits while investing in the future of the firm.

“Bringing in seven new partners in 12 months has increased the scope and range of services we can offer to clients and puts in place very strong foundations for further growth.”

He added: “Last year we set ourselves an ambitious target of increasing the headcount across the firm by 10 per cent. In fact we expanded much more quickly, increasing the number of staff across our three offices in Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow by 18 per cent.

“With the support of HSBC, we are investing heavily on upgrading our IT, finance and client systems as well as a full corporate rebrand, including the launch of a new website.”

This year also saw MacRoberts move up four places from seven to three in the Scottish Business Insider’s Top 100 SMEs.

In the Legal 500 annual guide, the projects team achieved a tier one ranking for the fifth year in a row and is the only Scotland-based firm that received this result.

The commercial property team also achieved a top ranking for the second year running.

Two partners at MacRoberts were named in the elite “Leading Individuals” category: Andrew Orr (projects) and Neil Kelly (construction.)

In the recent Chambers Guide 2015, David Arnott and Neil Kelly were ranked band one in construction, with Neil Amner at band one in transport.

Twenty-five of the MacRoberts lawyers were ranked as “leaders in their field”, with Robin Fallas, Duncan Osler and Neil Amner ranked in more than one category.

Mr Macmillan added: “Legal firms in Scotland must evolve and develop into new markets to grow and flourish.

“During this coming year we will continue to grow the business by focusing on our core areas such as construction, projects and employment.

“Our new partners will also allow us to expand into the new areas of corporate defence, mineral resources and transport.

“The next 12 months promises to be exciting with further growth based on providing a first class service to our clients.”