Top Scottish dealmaker joins forces with UK advisory firm

Hall Morrice Corporate Finance, one of Scotland’s most active mid-market dealmakers, has joined forces with UK advisory firm Dow Schofield Watts as part of “strategic growth plans”.

From left: Tom Faichnie and Melanie Clark from Hall Morrice Corporate Finance with Nicole Burstow and James Dow of Dow Schofield Watts. Picture: Michal Wachucik

The “partnership” deal will give the Aberdeen team access to Dow Schofield Watts’ national and international network of corporate finance specialists and the capacity to handle a wider range of deals.

The corporate finance operation will remain in its existing base and retain a “close relationship” with the Hall Morrice accountancy firm but operate under the Dow Schofield Watts brand.

Hall Morrice Corporate Finance was founded in 2017 by Tom Faichnie, a former Deloitte director and RSM partner, and Melanie Clark, who was recently named as one of the Icas top 100 chartered accountants.

Faichnie said: “Having firmly established ourselves as an independent force within the Aberdeen market, this partnership with Dow Schofield Watts will allow us to take our business to the next level.

“It will boost our global reach in line with the increasingly international nature of the oil services industry, and enable us to leverage the breadth and depth of expertise within the group to support other fast-growing entrepreneurial businesses in the region.”

Respected

James Dow, founding partner of Dow Schofield Watts, said: “Hall Morrice Corporate Finance is highly respected within the Scottish deals market and fits well with our own ethos of top-tier professionals providing a partner-led service. The partnership will extend the Dow Schofield Watts operation across the Border into Scotland, with its strong tech and financial services sectors, and allow advisers across the UK to draw upon the team’s expertise in the oil industry.”

Bob Bain, managing partner at Hall Morrice Chartered Accountants, added: “We look forward to working closely with Tom and Melanie in the future. Having an experienced corporate finance team on site enables us to offer added value to businesses. The new arrangements will build on this by allowing clients to tap into the Dow Schofield Watts network and open up new opportunities worldwide.”