McGrigors tops legal rival Dundas & Wilson

McGRIGORS has replaced arch rival Dundas & Wilson as Scotland's largest law firm for the first time in four years, according to figures obtained by Scotland on Sunday.

Dundas & Wilson's turnover fell by 8 per cent to 61 million in the year to 30 April, according to accounts filed at Companies House.

The drop follows a 12 per cent fall in 2009.

Figures supplied by McGrigors showed the firm's revenues grew by 16 per cent to 69m on an annualised basis following growth in its energy, infrastructure and financial services practices.

McGrigors' year-end falls on 30 September, putting it out of step with the other "big four" law firms, hence it issued an annualised figure based on management accounts.

Profit per equity partner (PEP) at McGrigors grew from 230,000 to 263,000, while D&W also posted a rise from 308,000 to 317,000. Donald Shaw, managing partner at D&W, said: "Our competitive benchmark is major London firms and we are very pleased that our financial results compare favourably against many of those firms."

Figures released last month showed that revenue at Maclay Murray & Spens fell by 5.4 per cent to 52.5m but cost-cutting helped PEP rise by 20 per cent to 265,000.

Brodies snatched fourth spot in the "big four" from Shepherd and Wedderburn after Brodies' turnover dropped from 39.1m to 35.8m, but Shepherd's fell further, from 39.6m to 35.3m.

But Shepherd gave a boost to staff in June when it announced that it would pay wages to staff who had taken unpaid leave during the recession. Pre-tax profits rose by 9 per cent to 8.2m, allowing the firm to give half of the lost cash to 370 staff who took an extra ten days' leave.