Scottish legal firm Gillespie Macandrew — which has advised high profile companies involved with the Scotland’s offshore wind bonanza — has doubled turnover in the past ten years.
The results for the year ending 28 February 2025 show turnover of £19.6m, representing an 11 per cent year-on-year increase. As well as doubling turnover in the decade, the firm has achieved double digit turnover growth in three of the last four years.
The firm has advised on energy projects with a global development value of an estimated £20bn, including Berwick Wind Farm and Seagreen Offshore Wind Farm, the largest operational offshore wind farm in Scotland with a total generating capacity of 1.075GW.
It has also advised Criterion Capital on the purchase of the former Debenhams store, in Princes Street, Edinburgh for a hotel development and assisted a private bank in the refinance of c.£33m of commercial investment properties.
The firm attributes its progress to having a business strategy focused on deepening its expertise in the firm’s four sectors of Land & Rural Business, Energy, Private Client and Commercial Real Estate.
Profits for 2024/25 have also climbed to £6.3m, an increase of 20 per cent over the previous year, allowing the firm to re-investment into its business infrastructure and people, with a firm-wide bonus of 7 per cent, consistent with award levels in recent years.
Chief executive officer Robert Graham-Campbell, said: “As these financial results demonstrate, our strategy of sector focus is paying dividends, enabling us to deliver a highly competitive offering to our clients in terms of expertise, knowledge and service provision.
“This focus also helps consolidate the development of expertise in our staff through their exposure to the highest quality of clients and legal work in these sectors. In a competitive and consolidating marketplace for legal services, our approach will continue to ensure our clients receive premium legal advisory and transactional services based on expertise and experience gained through specialisation.”
The company has also refurbished its Edinburgh office and replaced its core IT platform to fulfil a cloud-first strategy. The company has a continuing partnership with charity partners Richmond’s Hope and Change Mental Health. This follows the conclusion of charity partnerships with Alzheimer’s Scotland and the Edinburgh Children’s Hospital Charity, which raised £139,000 over a three-year partnership.
The firm has recently appointed Frank Blin as the new chair. Blin has a distinguished career spanning over 38 years with global professional services firm PWC, together with a wealth of experience in the commercial and professional services sectors in Scotland.
Graham-Campbell added: “The appointment of Frank signals an exciting new chapter for Gillespie Macandrew. Frank’s professional experience and leadership will be instrumental as we continue to grow our market presence in our four core sectors, as well as attract new talent and deepen our commitment to delivering exceptional legal services to our clients across Scotland and beyond.”
Gillespie Macandrew has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.
