THE county's largest legal firm, Garden Stirling Burnet (GSB), has been acquired by Glasgow-based law practice Friends Legal.
Friends Legal has pledged to retain the GSB name and has promised "rapid investment" in a bid to double both staff numbers and turnover in three years.
GSB – which traces its roots to the creation of legal firm Stirling and Burnet in Haddington in the early 1900s – has a 22-strong team across its four offices in Haddington, Dunbar, North Berwick and Tranent.
Tony O’Malley, managing partner of Friends Legal, said: “GSB is a great business with a brilliant reputation, fantastic people and an unmatched footprint across East Lothian. We will re-establish GSB in the local market by investing in its people, infrastructure and brand.
“It’s the largest legal practice by footprint and headcount in the county but has perhaps lost market share in recent years.
"Our aim is to put it firmly back on the map by offering premium services at a fair price. That is our overriding priority and we will need to recruit to achieve these aims.”
Angela Craig, Tony O'Malley (centre) and Alan Borrowman at GSB North Berwick
While GSB – which will become part of the Friends Legal network – is known for its estate agency, executry and conveyancing work, Friends Legal says that a priority will be to unlock the potential of its whole private client team including family law and its letting business.
The takeover creates a business with a total turnover of more than £7 million and 60 staff across Scotland.
GSB directors Alan Borrowman, Angela Craig and Ian Philp will remain with the firm for at least a year.
Friends Legal says that new consultancy roles will "free them up to focus on work they enjoy while improving work-life balance".
Mr Borrowman said: “We would also like to wholeheartedly thank our loyal clients for their ongoing support and to reassure them that this merger will mean that Garden Stirling Burnet continues to be a leading legal presence here in East Lothian.
"Indeed, by becoming part of the Friends Legal network, our range of legal services to clients will become even more specialist yet accessible."
And he added: "This is the right deal at the right time and will be fantastic for the dedicated and hard-working team we’ve established at GSB over many years. As directors, that is so important to us and we are thrilled with the long-term plans and prospects for the business and the role that we play in the community.”
Founded by Mr O'Malley in 2016, Friends Legal offers direct-to-consumer executry, wills and power of attorney work.
It says that the acquisition of GSB will also enable it to explore further consumer legal services, particularly in conveyancing and remortgaging.
From its Glasgow HQ and another office in Edinburgh, it already provides volume personal injury and medical negligence services.
In 2015, GSB changed from a partnership to a limited company under the stewardship of the three current directors.
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