Shoosmiths has signalled its intent to further expand in Scotland after signing a deal for a permanent office in the heart of Glasgow’s innovation district.
The firm will lease c.5000 sq ft of space on the 5th floor of The Garment Factory – a restored historic city centre building on Montrose Street. Other tenants include broadcaster Channel 4, digital transformation firm Incremental Group, and software firm AutoRek.
Office design company Claremont has been instructed by Shoosmiths on the fit-out, with the firm planning to open in October this year, subject to any Scottish Government COVID -19 guidance.
The firm has been based at 1 West Regent Street in Glasgow since September 2019, where it has serviced clients and developed a strong pipeline of new business from a small ‘agile working hub’.
Reflecting the success of the strategy to establish a West of Scotland presence, in the last 18 months the firm has attracted a raft of senior hires from rival firms. This has included employment partner Michael McLaughlin and employment principal associate Jennifer Wright both from DWF; legal directors Tom Maxwell (also from DWF) and Lauren Miller (from Shepherd and Wedderburn), planning senior associate Geraint Hughes (from Brodies) and banking partner, Fiona Cameron who has also joined from Brodies. Eilidh Durkin, previously with DWF has also joined the corporate team in Glasgow as an associate. Consequently, there are currently 12 legal advisors and partners based in Glasgow with plans to expand the full-service office with more hires.
“We have a clear vision of where we want to go in Glasgow, building on the excellent reputation the firm already has across Scotland and wider UK. We are intent on increasing our market share in Scotland and beyond, building on the strong foundations established through our presence in the capital. Glasgow will help us push on with our strategy for further sustained growth delivering real strength and depth across key commercial sectors.
Barry McKeown, partner and the newly appointed head of Shoosmiths’ Glasgow office, commented: “Shoosmiths’ decision to expand its footprint in Glasgow with office space at The Garment Factory is a direct result of the significant upturn in business we have developed in the west of Scotland since opening a small hub in the city centre 18 months ago. It’s a very positive step and one that also reflects feedback from within our existing client base in the west who have highlighted the benefits of establishing a larger, permanent presence within the steadily transforming landscape of Scotland’s largest city. Importantly, we know Glasgow has a huge pool of legal talent who can service clients in Scotland and the whole of the UK, and we believe Shoosmiths is a place they’d like to work, given the calibre of work, people and culture.”
Janette Speed, Shoosmiths’ head of Scotland, added: “We have a clear vision of where we want to go in Glasgow, building on the excellent reputation the firm already has across Scotland and wider UK. We are intent on increasing our market share in Scotland and beyond, building on the strong foundations established through our presence in the capital. Glasgow will help us push on with our strategy for further sustained growth delivering real strength and depth across key commercial sectors.
“As Shoosmiths continues its expansion in Scotland and moves robustly forward following the challenging lockdown period, we will continue to seek out quality legal talent who will add to our head count in key practice areas in both Glasgow and Edinburgh and assist us in delivering superb legal and commercial advice across our expanding blue chip client base.”
Shoosmiths has a broad and diverse range of clients in Scotland, including major banks and financial institutions, housebuilders, foreign and domestic investors and business owners. Clients include Glasgow City Council, Watkins Jones, Bellway Homes, Sigma Capital Partners, Robertson Homes, Pernod Ricard, Amey, MV Commercial Limited, Extreme E Limited, Leapfrog Investments Group and Graham’s The Family Dairy.
Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. It is recommended that specific professional advice is sought before acting on any of the information given. © Shoosmiths LLP 2024.