MacRoberts eyes ‘exciting’ future as earnings rise

Commercial law firm MacRoberts today said it was looking forward to an “exciting” year after reporting higher profits and turnover.

MacRoberts managing partner John Macmillan

Managing partner John Macmillan said the growth in earnings followed the addition of seven new partners, bringing its total to 47.

He added: “The most impressive aspect of our annual results is that we continued to increase turnover and profits while investing in the future of the firm.

“Bringing in seven new partners in 12 months has increased the scope and range of services we can offer to clients and puts in place very strong foundations for further growth.”

Macmillan was speaking after MacRoberts reported a 1.3 per cent rise in profits to almost £6.2 million for the year to April, on turnover 2 per cent higher at £18m.

He said: “Last year we set ourselves an ambitious target of increasing the headcount across the firm by 10 per cent. In fact we expanded much more quickly, increasing the number of staff across our three offices in Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow by 18 per cent. With the support of HSBC, we are investing heavily on upgrading our IT, finance and client systems as well as a full corporate rebrand, including the launch of a new website.”

The new partners brought into the practice include transport and parliamentary lawyer Neil Amner, energy and minerals specialist Martin Sales and John McGovern, who heads up the firm’s new corporate defence team focusing on white-collar crime.

Macmillan added: “Legal firms in Scotland must evolve and develop into new markets to grow and flourish. During this coming year we will continue to grow the business by focusing on our core areas such as construction, projects and employment.

“Our new partners will also allow us to expand into the new areas of corporate defence, mineral resources and transport. The next 12 months promises to be exciting with further growth based on providing a first-class service to our clients.”