HBJ Gateley begins job of rebuilding Glasgow team

LAW firm HBJ Gateley yesterday named two new partners in its Glasgow office as it replenishes its senior west coast team following a number of departures.

Caroline James joins from Edinburgh-based Tods Murray, where she spent 11 years as a partner and most recently served as head of English property.

She is joined by Tim Cooper, a restructuring and insolvency specialist from the Manchester office of international law firm Squire Sanders Hammonds, where he was involved in the administration of shoe chain Dolcis and coffee retailer Whittard of Chelsea.

HBJ Gateley remained tight-lipped on the name of a third senior recruit, who will be unveiled next month after joining from a “major Scottish rival”.

Managing partner Malcolm McPherson denied reports of “unrest” in the firm’s Glasgow office, despite six partners leaving the business since August.

They included the former head of the Glasgow operation, Alan Stewart, who is understood to have resigned from the firm after a restructuring that involved Alison Newton being brought in from rival firm McGrigors to lead the office.

McPherson said none of the departing staff was an equity partner. He added: “We’ve replaced as many staff as we’ve lost in the Glasgow office. People have left for a variety of different reasons and, as far as I know, they are not related.”

McPherson said the firm was poised to make a number of appointments in the weeks ahead in Glasgow as Newton grows the office, with a specific focus on corporate recovery. The practice has been involved in a number of high-profile administrations including Highland Airways and restaurant chain Howies.

HBJ Gateley was created in 2006 through the merger of Edinburgh-based Henderson Boyd Jackson and Birmingham-based Gateley Wareing.