Thorntons gears up for Edinburgh expansion

Tayside headquartered legal firm Thorntons is planning an expansion of its activities in Edinburgh as it completes a move to larger office premises in the capital.

The firm believes its new office at 13 Melville Street will enable it to nearly double its staff complement to around 40 people over the next three to five years, as it seeks growth in areas such as land and rural advice as well as commercial work.

Thorntons' joint managing partners Scott Mlne and Craig Nicol have also indicated that they would favour a merger with an established residential property firm as a means of gaining a presence in that sector.

In a significant move last year Thorntons built its presence in Fife by a double merger with Murray Donald and Steel Eldridge Stewart. It now has 42 partners in offices in Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh, Cupar, St Andrews, Anstruther, Arbroath and Forfar.