‘Ethical DNA’ key to firm of year victory

“We had won awards before but this was the ‘biggie’ and here was Thompsons, a very niche, specialist firm, taking the top award. You always assume one of the big generalist practices will pull it off, but we did it – by doing what we do brilliantly and by being true to our DNA.”

McGuire continues: “It showed we could do a great job for clients and campaign for political change to make things better – but be recognised for it too among our peers. The pride in that recognition was felt through the entire firm; there was a glow through the whole staff.”

But McGuire is adamant that success will never go to the heads of Thompsons’ staff. “We are very deliberately a different type of law firm and certain types of people seek us out because of what we stand for, because of what’s in our DNA,” he says.

The nature of Thompsons’ work – as a firm known for standing up for victims of industrial disease and injury – makes for a strong team, says McGuire.

“We are a group of people from top to bottom with shared values and outlooks on life, and we come together to do absolutely the best for our clients. That is the cement that really holds us together. We have won several awards but never ever get blasé.”

McGuire says the firm remains totally committed to clients. “You don’t have to look much beyond the headlines to see there are attacks on certain types of solicitors, especially in England. Some might try to tar Thompsons with the same brush and it creates a difficult environment to operate in.

“Large numbers of people rely upon us and we have to make sure the firm continues to be successful, to grow and to move in to other fields.”

Clients are not just clients, says McGuire: “They are part of the Thompsons family and we owe it to them to grow the business, but we will never sell the family silver – never give up on our core values.”

McGuire says the firm is proud to continue representing trade unions and affiliated organisations: “We have grown into new markets but we will only ever stand up for the victim.”

So is awards’ success all about being true to yourself and what you stand for? “I would not criticise any lawyer for running their business in the way they think they have to, but for us there can only be one means of growth – and that is to grow in an ethical way.”

This philosophy was articulated by Frank Maguire, Thompsons senior partner, in an interview on these pages after the firm won the award in March. One of the founding fathers of Thompsons, he died last month after a long illness. How did that affect staff at Thompsons?

“On a personal level, there isn’t a single member of staff who has not been touched profoundly by the loss of Frank Maguire. He was a leader, he was a friend and he was an inspiration in a lot of ways to a lot of people,” says McGuire.

“His legacy is absolutely clear – he has left a mark on Scotland’s legal landscape that was utterly ethical. We will still be talking about his impact in 100 years. He recognised the system’s flaws and left Scotland a fairer, more just place for ordinary working people.”

And McGuire says his late colleague’s philosophy makes it, in one way, easy to carry on: “He was a very humble man and although he spearheaded many campaigns, and had a very clear vision, he always acknowledged he was part of a team.

“Everything he stood up for reflected the values of Thompsons and those values remain – and we remain committed to them.”

• The Scott + Co Scottish Legal Awards 2012 reward talented individuals and teams working in Scotland. There are 18 categories, including Firm of the Year and Litigation Team of the Year, plus awards for excellence in energy, family law, property, innovation and more. Deadline for entries is noon on 30 November. The awards are free to enter, but a donation is requested for charity partner Children 1st. See www.thelegalawards.com