Three Aberdeen legal firms announce merger

01/05/2024
Some of the expanded team at Burnett and Reid

THREE prominent legal firms in Aberdeen announce their merger today (Wednesday 1st May, 2024). Local firms Burnett & Reid LLP, Gavin Bain & Company and Taggart Meil Mathers will become one firm this year. The merger marks a significant milestone for all three firms as they come together to form one of the largest all-service legal firms in Aberdeen.

The merger will bring together a combined workforce of some 70 personnel, under the banner of Burnett & Reid, which was founded in 1754 and is the longest-established legal firm in the city.   All staff positions will remain, with the team being located across two offices in Aberdeen at 1 Albyn Place and 432 Union Street, and an office in Banchory at the Banchory Business Centre. The announcement propels the businesses forward as a formidable force in the legal landscape of the North East of Scotland, building on its long history of innovating and adapting to the local economic climate.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.

Talking of the announcement Colin Bremner, Member at Burnett & Reid LLP, said: “We are excited about the opportunities this merger presents. As a collective of legal firms based in the city, we all have the same goal in our commitment to provide our clients with the highest quality advice and assistance. We believe that this merger will bring about numerous benefits to our valued clients and open the door to new clients. With a larger team of professionals and expanded resources, we will be able to offer a wider range of expert legal and land management advice to people, businesses and other organisations across the North East.”

The merged businesses have six “members”, including Burnett & Reid’s existing trio of Mr Bremner, William Robertson and James Herbertson. They are joined by former Gavin Bain partners Neil Johnson, Graham Morrison and John Hardie.

TMM had three partners, Ross Taggart, Judith Meil and Frank Mathers who are all now directors of Burnett & Reid.

Of the three other people who were partners in Gavin Bain, managing partner Gavin Bain and Stephen Glennie are now consultants with B&R, and Angela Bruce has retired.

Mr Johnston, previously of Gavin Bain, said: “The merger is not just about strength in numbers but about bringing expanded services to our clients.

“We see ourselves as compatible organisations who will combine seamlessly, with a clear communication plan for the coming months that will ensure we continue to provide top-class services to clients old and new. We are very much looking forward to the future.”

Mr Mathers, formerly of TMM, said: “We support people at some of the most stressful moments in their lives, whether that’s purchasing or selling a home, setting up a new business, having to navigate any relationship breakdown or dealing with the winding up of an estate of a loved one who has passed away.

“Some of these moments are happy, but some are also extremely trying and difficult.

“We will remain a trusted legal partner, with a local presence and look forward to a new outlook as a part of a larger team.”

For further information on the newly combined firm and its service offerings, visit www.burnett-reid.co.uk

The latest stories

Free night buses to return to City and Shire
Local firm celebrates surpassing £150,000 milestone in donations to charity
Stonehaven MD recognised in 2024 Top 100 Women in Tourism
Call out for artists for Northern Lights at SPECTRA