The move follows the firm’s work in recent years representing drivers caught up in the “Dieselgate” scandal which saw manufacturers accused of installing technology to falsify emission levels.

The firm brought a case, on behalf of some 1,600 Volkswagen owners, which is currently proceeding to a full hearing.

Partner Patrick Mcguire and associate Kieran Smith are heading up the new unit, which is currently acting for a group of prison officers over pension advice.

Thompsons is also representing investors who suffered losses from the collapse of the Woodford Equity Income Fund (WEIF) in 2019.

Link Fund Solutions, the administrator of WEIF, said that up to £124 million remains stuck in the fund.

Around 300,000 investors in the UK have been affected by the fund’s collapse and it has been suggested that as many as 30,000 of these people could be in Scotland.

“In Scotland there are not a lot of law firms looking into these kinds of areas,” Mr Smith told The Herald.

“It is not because there is no merit to the claims. These can be very complex cases, which means you will come up against risks, and invariably you are coming up against defendants, insurers and firms with very deep pockets who will fight the cases.”