"Organic growth" boosts Anderson Strathern figures in latest year

Legal firm Anderson Strathern is claiming "organic growth" as underlying improved figures in its results for the year to 31 August 2018, released today.

Turnover rose 6% from £21.5m to £22.8m while profits were up 10% to just below £7m. In 2016-17 the firm recovered from a dip in the wake of the Brexit referendum to post revenue growth of 2.5% and profits up 4%.

The firm said its "organic growth trajectory" over the last 12 months had been underpinned by significant lateral hires and investment in its business support areas, including the finance function headed by former PwC director Susanne Godfrey who joined as finance director in November 2017.

It identified its private client, commercial and public sector practice groups as contributing to overall growth at Anderson Strathern during the year, with the firm being named as principal provider of legal services to Crown Estate Scotland, and an appointment by APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities & Colleges) in Scotland completing its ranking in all lots of the APUC and Scottish Government Legal Services frameworks.

Anderson Strathern Asset Management, the firm's wealth management arm led by former Aberdeen Asset Management Head of Global Distribution John Brett, grew its team during the year and now has £270m under management.

Chair Bruce Farquhar commented: "Our record results for 2018 show that our growth strategy is working well and that Anderson Strathern is going from strength to strength. Our strategic focus on appointing key people both in the legal and business functions to help us with that growth will continue. All the indicators are that we will also have a strong 2019 with our confident proposition as a leading independent Scottish law firm with expert lawyers operating across the private client, commercial and public sectors."

Managing Partner Murray McCall added: "The year was one of good housekeeping and gains, achieved through teams working smarter across the firm and followed significant investment in our people and technology in 2017. An even sharper approach to our internal mechanics, alongside an absolute focus on listening to our clients, is paying dividends and is reflected in our record numbers this year."

Anderson Strathern currently has 52 partners and over 240 employees across Edinburgh, Glasgow and East Lothian.