A Scottish law firm has acquired a City of London practice as it continues on the acquisition trail.
It is the firm’s first move into London and south-east England.
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Gilson Gray is acquiring PCM Solicitors, founded by Paul Critchley in September 2009.
Mr Critchley, senior partner of PCM Solicitors, said: “With phenomenal client satisfaction rates and an excellent team, I’m sure we will be a feather in Gilson Gray’s cap.”
PCM Solicitors, which employs six people, specialises in family and property law, “prioritising a high-quality and bespoke offering”, Gilson Gray said.
The Scottish law firm added: “It provides services to clients in London and the south-east and was among the first practices to achieve conveyancing quality scheme accreditation from The Law Society in 2011.”
Gilson Gray, which employs nearly 450 people, said PCM Solicitors’ full team would join Gilson Gray, with Mr Critchley “transitioning to a new role within the firm’s property offering”.
The Scottish firm said it would also start the recruitment process for a head of operations in London, flagging “ambitious plans” to further expand its presence in the UK capital, offering a “full range of legal, property, and financial management services”.
Noting the acquisition of PCM Solicitors was its “first step” into London and south-east England, Gilson Gray noted it “already has a strong presence in the north of England" through its Lincoln office, following the purchase of Home Property Lawyers in 2022.
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PCM Solicitors is Gilson Gray’s third acquisition of 2024, with the Scottish firm noting it had announced deals for Edinburgh’s MHD and Bowmans Solicitors in Forfar earlier this year.
Gilson Gray, which was established in 2014 and has offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, East Lothian, Aberdeen, Lincoln, Angus and now London, describes itself as “one of the fastest-growing law firms in the UK”.
Glen Gilson, chair and managing partner of Gilson Gray, said: “As part of our national expansion, it is important to avail ourselves of the most lucrative markets and access the strongest talent pools. London represents an important strategic development for the business, and we expect to create further presence in other cities in due course. We will announce additional London appointments shortly, as we look to replicate our group service platform across the UK.”
Mr Critchley said: “We were impressed with Gilson Gray’s plans for growth, the range of services it can offer to our clients, and the opportunities it opens up to our staff - the vast majority of whom have been with us for many years. We have always punched above our weight and, in this next phase, we can realise the firm’s full potential. With a great deal of alignment in our values and approach to business, we are excited to join the Gilson Gray fold.”
In June, Gilson Gray unveiled a raft of promotions as it highlighted its growth.
It declared that the appointments came as it continued to grow and broaden its service offering across Scotland and the wider UK.
Gilson Gray announced in June that Rob McGregor has become head of estate agency at its property division.
It said Callum Sutherland would lead new business and home-buying at the firm’s residential conveyancing arm - which Gilson Gray declared “has grown to become one of Scotland’s largest in recent years”.
And Fraser Cameron was appointed as legal director at Gilson Gray’s litigation team. Gilson Gray noted in June this team had in the previous 12 months “won a series of awards and high-profile cases including short-term lets operators’ petition against City of Edinburgh Council’s proposed new licensing regime”.
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