Aberdein Considine expands with Glasgow merger

Scottish Law Firm Aberdein Considine has announced that it is to merge with Glasgow solicitor estate agent A&S Ireland.

The combined businesses – which will trade under the Aberdein Considine brand from next month – will together employ 360 staff and have a total turnover of more than £21million.

The expansion adds two further estate agency and leasing branches to Aberdein Considine’s Glasgow property network, which will now span Byres Road in the city’s West End, Kilmarnock Road in Shawlands and Ayr Road in Newton Mearns.

A&S Ireland’s legal office on Waterloo Street will become Aberdein Considine’s new headquarters in the city, hosting its dispute resolution and employment law teams, as well as the firm’s national corporate real estate department led by partner Paul Jennings.

Aberdein Considine managing partner Jacqueline Law said: “We are fully committed to offering our clients in Glasgow and the surrounds quality property, legal and financial services.

“A&S Ireland already has an established professional reputation in Glasgow and bring to the table a loyal client following, market knowledge and between the partners over 60 years of experience.”

Aberdein Considine offers property, legal and financial services to private and commercial clients across Scotland.

Its clients include global banking giants RBS, Barclays, Lloyds Group and Santander, as well high street retailers including Greggs PLC and Rox. The firm has also recently secured its first public sector legal work with NHS Grampian and the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

The A&S Ireland merger follows the partnership’s acquisition of Stirling firm Muirhead Buchanan in 2014 and is Aberdein Considine’s eighth Central Belt expansion in just five years.

Mrs Law added: “While we have traditionally expanded through organic growth, our recent merger with Muirhead Buchanan in Stirling showed the value of bringing an established local brand with experienced lawyers into our business.

“As well as property and private client services, we will now be able to offer A&S Ireland clients the full range of legal specialisms and financial services. In the Glasgow market, this is a unique proposition.”

All 20 jobs at A&S Ireland are being retained and staff will transfer to Aberdein Considine when the transaction concludes on May 27. A&S Ireland’s partners, Gavin Crowe and Bryden Crearie, will both become partners in Aberdein Considine upon completion.

Mr Crowe said: “Since we started trading in 1985, A&S Ireland has always aimed to offer the best possible personal service to clients. We are amongst a very limited number of lawyers who offer estate agency services in Glasgow on a level with the national agents.

“The merger with Aberdein Considine allows us to offer a greater range of services including property leasing and financial services to our clients. It also provides to our clients national coverage”.

“Aberdein Considine is an established and well-respected brand in property, regularly outperforming the market with the speed of its sales, the prices it achieves for clients and its huge reach through digital marketing. As estate agency continues to evolve in the digital age, this merger will give Glasgow clients a significant new player both online and ‘on the ground’.”