Independent Scottish law firms, Patience and Buchan and Thorntons, have announced a merger that will strengthen legal services in Aberdeen and beyond.
Patience and Buchan’s two partners, Lorna Buchan and Ashley Simpson, and four employees will transfer to the merged firm, which will be known as Thorntons, on 1 October 2025.
The deal creates Thorntons’ first permanent office in Aberdeen, after years of supporting clients in Northeast Scotland. It is an important step in its ongoing growth strategy, which is focused on building a scalable and sustainable business that meets the needs and ambitions of its clients and people.
Thorntons, which can trace its roots back to 1857, is one of Scotland’s fastest-growing independent law firms following organic expansion and a series of successful mergers, including most recently with Central Scotland firm Macnabs. The firm, which has offices in Inverness, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Perth, now supports over 300,000 businesses and individuals across the UK and globally with a full-service capability, creating a unique space in the marketplace. Thorntons is named as a top 100 UK firm by The Lawyer and is consistently ranked highly by the legal profession’s leading directories, based on client feedback.
Established in 2000 and based in Aberdeen’s Golden Square, Patience and Buchan was the first practice in Northeast Scotland to specialise solely in family law. Over its 25 years, the firm has built a strong reputation throughout Scotland in all areas of family law, including complex child-related cases, separation and divorces involving significant assets and providing a full range of alternative dispute resolution, such as mediation, collaboration and arbitration. The firm and its partners have been recognised year on year in Chambers and Legal 500 by clients, and its focus has always been on providing a personal service to clients.
When Patience and Buchan join with Thorntons, the firm’s total number of employees will rise to more than 580, and a partnership of 79.
Lesley Larg, Managing Partner, Thorntons, said: “Aberdeen has been an area of interest to us for a considerable amount of time, but it was essential that we found the right people to partner with before entering the marketplace.
“With its focus on providing high-quality, personal services, Patience and Buchan really stood out for us, and its growth ambitions perfectly complement our own commercial outlook. Joining with its team will create an outstanding base to build our full-service offering in Aberdeen and enhance legal services locally.
“Our rich sector expertise in energy, technology, food and drink and property is well matched to the region, while our extensive private client services equip us to support individuals and families through every stage of life.
“We look forward to forging longstanding relationships in the Aberdeen community and welcoming our new colleagues to the business. Importantly, Patience and Buchan’s clients will continue to receive the outstanding service which brought us together with the firm’s brilliant team.”
Lorna Buchan, Partner, Patience and Buchan, said: “Thorntons is one of Scotland’s most respected and successful independent law firms in Scotland with a first-class family law team headed up by Ruth Croman, and a deep commitment to a client-first approach.
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“We thought long and hard about our future with the firm. Over the course of many conversations, we realised we had found a partner that shared our culture and ambitions, and which would value our people and clients in the same way we do. These relationships are central to our success, and it was clear from the outset that Thorntons is equally dedicated to nurturing talent as well as having an unwavering commitment to do right by clients.
“Joining with Thorntons secures our legacy, creates exciting opportunities for our colleagues and ensures our clients continue to receive a strong client service as well as benefitting from Thorntons’ investment in providing world-class innovative legal solutions.
“Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing more details with our clients and ensuring they are a key part of the journey as we join with Thorntons and become a national firm of ambition and scale.”
