Our History

Morton Fraser is a Limited Liability Partnership, structured in a similar way to many of our clients - with a Management Board, a Chief Executive and a Chairman. The firm provides award winning and top rated legal services across the UK, and has links to over 160 international firms. It has been known as Morton Fraser since 2000.

The firm can lay claim to being the oldest law firm in Scotland following its merger with Macdonalds in February 2013. Macdonalds can trace records of the firm back to John Wilson who put up his plate as a writer in Glasgow about 1614. John Wilson was succeeded by two further John Wilsons. Records exist of the third John Wilson being admitted as a Notary Public at the age of 22 on 20 February 1655. He was followed by his nephew, also John Wilson, who was the first signatory of the minutes of the Royal faculty of Procurators in 1668. His son, known as “Reid- Heided" Wilson, followed his father and became town Clerk of Glasgow in 1766 while continuing in private practice. He was one of the thirty original members of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce established in 1783 – the first Chamber of  its kind on mainland Britain. A number of Wilsons continued the firm and in 1883 John Macdonald was taken into partnership by the seventh Wilson. His portrait is on display in the office.

Also in 1883, Robert Jameson commenced practice and his business became Jameson Maclae and Baird. The last of the Wilsons died in 1884 leaving John Macdonald to continue the practice. He was succeeded by his son who took James Smith into partnership and the firm became “Macdonald Son and Smith”. The two firms amalgamated immediately before the second world war as Macdonald Jameson and Co and then became Macdonald Jameson and Morris before the Macdonalds name was adopted in 1977.

The Morton Fraser practice in Edinburgh can be traced back to 1829, when it was founded by Charles Morton who set up as Greig & Morton WS in partnership with James Greig. Following various mergers during the 19th century, in 1915 the firm underwent another amalgamation to become known as Morton, Smart, Macdonald & Prosser WS.

1961 saw another merger - with J & J Milligan WS. The two firms becoming known as Morton, Smart, Macdonald & Milligan WS. In 1968 they merged again with Fraser, Stodart & Ballingall WS to become Morton, Fraser & Milligan WS shortened to Morton Fraser in 2000. 

                                      Princess Anne Opening Quartermile

The firm opened an office in Glasgow in 2004 and in London in 2007 in response to client demand. In 2002 the firm merged with the commercial practice of Robson McLean WS and in 2008, with Edinburgh based law firm Skene Edwards.

The firm continues to expand and develop to best serve our clients' requirements.