Brodies closes in on £100m milestone

Over the years, Brodies LLP has established itself in the Highlands, supporting clients with a range of legal needs.

Following the opening of its Inverness office earlier this year, we had the opportunity to catch up with Nick Scott, managing partner of Brodies LLP, to understand what has made Brodies Scotland’s leading law firm, to learn more about its team in the Highlands and Islands and what its commitment to the region means to its clients.

Speaking about why Brodies moved from its original Highlands office in Dingwall, to Inverness, Mr Scott said: “Simply put, we carried on recruiting through the pandemic. We realised when we were going back to the offices, we didn’t have enough space in that office to house everyone.

“Having a base in Inverness makes it easier for our clients to come to see us and it means we can continue to recruit from a bigger talent pool.”

In its latest accounts, Brodies reported that it was closing in on £100 million in revenue – the first law firm in Scotland to achieve that milestone , and it continues to grow.

Speaking about this achievement, Mr Scott said: “This is not just good news for us, but for the economy of the country as a whole and the legal industry in general. We hope that others will follow us.”

The team at Brodies has experts in many sectors which is why they are proud to be firmly placed in the Highland capital, “We support clients in all sectors important to the Highlands and Islands economy, from food and drink, renewable energy and agriculture to hospitality and education,” said Mr Scott.

“A lot of land, and many businesses, are privately owned in Scotland so we also have a very strong private client base there too. We also support government and local authorities, as well as acting for individuals on personal and family matters.

“Our presence in the Highlands is not new, and the work our colleagues have been doing there has been going on for many years.

“It is critical for us to understand our clients’ individual needs. Many of our team are personally involved in the markets in which they advise, meaning they bring that understanding and passion to the advice they provide. Some of our rural sector lawyers are farmers themselves – that knowledge, experience and insight is invaluable to our clients.”

Having a clear business plan, Mr Scott believes, is fundamental to the firm’s progress.

“We weren’t the biggest law firm 20 years ago”, he said.

“But we don’t sit on our laurels. I am of the view that tomorrow can always be a better day. Not just because the world’s going to get better, but because we will do something that will make it better. We then do this every day, so things continue to improve.

“It’s also having the mentality that you can make continuous progress. We continue to recruit people. We committed to a new office in Edinburgh and in Inverness, so we’ve always had a mentality as a business that you have to be making progress because if you’re not, you are standing still. In a competitive marketplace standing still is, in reality, going backwards.

“We strategically plan and start from the bottom up. We see what markets need, and listen to what clients are telling us, and grow from there. And because we are a people business, we recruit the best people to serve our clients.”

Mr Scott himself was ranked in the Hall of Fame, and as a Leading Individual, in Legal 500 UK. Speaking about the qualities he has embraced throughout the years, he said: “Someone told me at the very beginning of my career that it is all about the clients. And it really is. This is what I stress to all my colleagues, that our clients come first.

“And I also always look at the why. Why do people want to build a property or why do they want to invest in a business? This has always fascinated me.

“But it is also about caring for people. Just because you are winning doesn’t mean you should stop caring. It is about valuing the team and ensuring that they are supported. I think looking at how we are caring for people trumps how we are doing on our financial outcomes – if we are without people, we are nothing. If we lose their hearts or minds, then maybe they’ll leave and they won’t encourage their friends and peers across the industry to come and join us.”

From supporting the new owners of the Dornoch Hotel, and the world-class Canadian golf developer, Cabot, in its acquisition of the Castle Stuart Golf Links, to the Tomatin distillery where Brodies provided legal and commercial advice to support a new brand development strategy in the United States, Brodies has a client list that clearly demonstrates its knowledge of, and commitment to the Highlands and Islands.

Of the team and the progress they have made in the Highlands and Islands, Mr Scott, said: “I am really proud of the team we have in the Highlands. They are a great bunch of people and our progress is testament to their hard work, commitment and client focus.”

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