Aberdeins revises plans for Simpson & Marwick brand

Recently launched professional services group Aberdeins has rethought its branding plans following its acquisition of the Simpson & Marwick property business.

The old-established legal firm, which had a reputation in property and litigation, merged in 2015 with global practice Clyde & Co, which kept the Simpson & Marwick name for its residential property and estate agency arm in Scotland. But last October it divested of this part of its business, agreeing its transfer to Aberdeins.

Now Aberdeins intends the Simpson & Marwick name to become the pre-eminent brand for all the group’s planned expansion across Scotland.

Managing partner Rob Aberdein, now managing partner at Simpson & Marwick, admitted that the acquisition had prompted a rethink on direction.

He explained: "Our plan was and remains to grow by acquiring high quality but underinvested legal practices across multiple disciplines. Simpson & Marwick was most definitely an exception to that. Under our original business plan, many such practices may well have retained their names. Now they will become part of Simpson & Marwick.

"We could never have dreamt that in our first few months of existence we would land a name with such history, pedigree and recognition factor. That is worthy of us totally pivoting our plans – and as a new and agile, challenger business that is exactly what we are doing."

Chairman Richard Loudon added: "For the past few years Simpson & Marwick has been best-known in the higher end of the Edinburgh and East Lothian property markets. That will remain the case, but we also intend to rebuild Simpson & Marwick as a powerhouse across a host of legal services.

"Once again, a generation of Scots will associate the Simpson & Marwick name with the full spectrum of legal services required by private clients and family businesses. We are incredibly excited about the potential this offers Simpson & Marwick to again be in the premier division of Scottish law firms."

Earlier this month Simpson & Marwick announced the hire of Malcolm Cannon, former head of Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre, as managing director, property services, joining from the Institute of Directors Scotland.

At the same time, Mr Aberdein will change the name of the group from Aberdeins to Moray Group. He commented: "At launch we needed a name and Aberdeins was fine. However, I believe that something less personal to me makes greater business sense for the long term.

"It is exactly the right time for these kinds of name changes, while we are still a new player and are still building recognition. Now our main focus is most definitely on growing the Simpson & Marwick brand without potential distractions."

He disclosed that a number of further deals were already in the pipeline to grow the business.