Edinburgh law firms announce merger

Two long-established Edinburgh law firms - Gibson Kerr and Marwicks - are to merge in a move which aims to create a dominant city centre residential property business.

The merger will see the existing Marwick’s premises in Dundas Street be refurbished - and later rebranded as Gibson Kerr - to provide the platform for the expansion of the new solicitors and estate agency operation.

Marwicks principal, Michael Marwick, will continue in the merged firm as a consultant solicitor and will be joined in the Dundas Street office by Scott Rasmusen, Partner and head of property at Gibson Kerr.

The merged firm - which will total 13 staff, six of whom will be based at Dundas Street - will also provide full legal services, for the first time, for Marwicks’ personal clients including executries, powers of attorney and family work.

Mr Rasmusen said: “We have been looking for sometime to find the right firm that would allow us to develop an enhanced residential property operation to meet our plans to further expand Gibson Kerr while complementing our other high quality client legal services.

“Marwicks and Gibson Kerr are the perfect fit; we share a similar profile and ethos, and a desire to provide excellent service to clients.

“We are looking forward to developing the Dundas Street premises, which provides us with a prime city centre shop front location and allow us to create what we think will be a new force in residential property.”

Mr Marwick said: “ We have a proud reputation for specialising in the purchase and sale of residential property throughout Scotland and in Shetland.

“Gibson Kerr are a like-minded firm who understand the value of delivering a high level of personal service to clients.

“I am very excited at this new chapter in the story of both Marwicks and Gibson Kerr.”

The firm will continue to trade in the interim as Marwicks before being renamed as Gibson Kerr, once a refit is completed to the Dundas Street premises. Exisiting clients of both firms are also being assured that the new merged firm will continue to provide the legal services they received before the merger.

Gibson Kerr, based in India Street, was formed in early 1980s, although the business originally dates back to 1940s. It was acquired by Scott and Fiona Rasmusen in 2005.

The firm specialises in Personal Law, Family Law and Property.

Partner Fiona Rasmusen is Head of Family Law, Partner Lindsay Maclean is Head of Personal Law with the Property team headed by Scott Rasmusen.

Marwicks was established as a separate firm in Edinburgh in 1978. Since then the firm has specialised in the purchase and sale of residential property throughout mainland Scotland and in Shetland.