Aberdein Considine expands in Glasgow with property firm merger

Legal firm Aberdein Considine is to merge with Glasgow solicitor estate agent A & S Ireland, acquiring a new headquarters for its Glasgow operation in the process.

The combined businesses will trade under the Aberdein Considine brand from June 2016. They will bring the firm a total of 360 staff and turnover of more than £21m.

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

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. The expansion also adds A & S Ireland's Byres Road and Newton Mearns estate agency and leasing branches to Aberdein Considine’s Glasgow property network.

Aberdein Considine managing partner Jacqueline Law commented: “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 brings to the table a loyal client following, market knowledge and between the partners over 60 years of experience.”

The acquisition marks the north-east headquartered firm's eighth central belt expansion in the last five years. Mrs Law added: “While we have traditionally expanded through organic growth, our recent [2014] 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.”

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.”