Well-known Scottish estate agency snapped up by big rival

Glasgow-based law firm Friends Legal has acquired the biggest firm of solicitors and estate agents in East Lothian.

The takeover of Garden Stirling Burnet (GSB) creates a business with over £7m-a-year turnover and 60 staff in six offices across Scotland.

It also gives Glasgow-headquartered Friends Legal a platform to create one of the biggest specialist private client firms in Scotland.

NAME RETAINED

The Garden Stirling Burnet name will be retained, while becoming part of the Friends Legal network, with plans to double the headcount across its four offices in Dunbar, Haddington, North Berwick and Tranent.

We will re-establish GSB in the local market by investing in its people, infrastructure and brand.”

Tony O’Malley (main picture, left), managing partner of Friends Legal, says: “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, so our aim is to put it firmly back on the map by offering premium services at a fair price.”

UNLOCKING POTENTIAL

While GSB is best known for its estate agency, executry and conveyancing work, a priority will be to unlock the potential of its whole private client team, including family law and its letting business.

O’Malley, who founded the Friends Legal brand in 2016, is keeping on GSB directors Alan Borrowman (main picture, right), Angela Craig and Ian Philp for at least a year. New consultancy roles will free them up to focus on work they enjoy.

Borrowman adds: “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.”