Our member, the leading Scots Law firm, MacRoberts, is to expand into the north east of Scotland by opening an office in Dundee.

Led by a former Managing Partner with the firm, John Macmillan, the new office will provide the full range of legal services offered by the existing MacRoberts offices in Glasgow and Edinburgh.   

Craig Turnbull the Managing Partner at MacRoberts said:  “This is an exciting and strategically important decision by MacRoberts.   There is a lot of economic activity in Dundee including the new £45m V&A museum, the £1bn Waterfront development, which is the second largest regeneration project in Scotland and the new £14m railway station.   MacRoberts already has many clients in the north east.   The new office will bring us closer to them and also allow us to grow our business in the city and the surrounding area.”

He added:  “John MacMillan is one of our most experienced partners and one of Scotland’s leading Employment lawyers.   The fact that he is moving to live in the Dundee area underlines the commitment of John and MacRoberts to the new office.”

John Macmillan, who was the Managing Partner of MacRoberts between 1998 and 2005, said he is delighted to be moving north:  “There is already a considerable demand for our services in the Dundee and Perth areas and across Fife.   Being in Dundee will bring us closer to our existing clients and allow us to offer a full range of legal services to companies and businesses across the region.”                  

In 2012, MacRoberts continued to increase the firm’s partner base, currently at 48, with three new recruits from rival companies.   Both Euan Duncan and David Gourlay joined the Intellectual Property, Technology and Commercial Contracts team and David Wylie joined the Corporate Finance team.          

Figures filed by MacRoberts for the 2011/12 show a small reduction in turnover of 4%, to £17,318,250.   The firm reported pre-tax profits of £5,493,869, a drop of 4% on a like for like basis from 2010-11.  

Commenting on the figures, the Managing Partner, Craig Turnbull, said:  “Lawyers provide legal advice to companies and businesses and if their activity is reduced so is their need for our services.  
While we are disappointed with any reduction in turnover and profit, we are encouraged that traditionally strong sectors for MacRoberts, such as Employment and Construction, continue to outperform the market.   We are also seeing increased activity in Energy, Corporate Finance and IP.”

He added:   “We are convinced that the new recruits and the new office, added to our existing expertise, will ensure that MacRoberts continues to be well placed to deal with a challenging legal market.”