Blackadders continues trend for consolidation

TAYSIDE law firm Blackadders is to swoop into the Edinburgh market with the takeover of McKay Norwell, continuing a run of consolidation in Scotland’s legal sector.

The move is due to complete this month and will create a combined firm with 17 partners and 150 staff. It will trade under the Blackadders banner.

A spokesman for Dundee-based Blackadders said staff transfer and redundancy talks were ongoing and no further comment would be made at this stage.

Chairman Donald Hutcheson said: “We are delighted to further strengthen Blackadders for the future by joining forces with McKay Norwell, which is well known and respected throughout Scotland and is very much a part of the Edinburgh legal scene.”

McKay Norwell can trace its roots back 80 years to when Dan McKay set up in practice. He was joined later by Bill Norwell, a former procurator fiscal.

John Mitchell, the firm’s senior partner, said: “This is an ideal way to expand our resources and continue to improve our service to clients.”

Other recent tie-ups in the sector include the takeover of Glasgow-based McGrigors by Pinsent Masons.

• Morton Fraser has flagged a “successful” year, including a 7 per cent increase in profits to £3.9m.

The firm – which has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London – did not disclose any other figures ahead of accounts being filed. It said staff were being paid bonuses, while there had been a “significant rise” in profit per equity partner.