At Morton Fraser we have highlighted clarity as our guiding principle.
This directs the way we communicate, the way we advise, the way we conduct relationships with our clients and the way we are totally transparent and upfront about our charges. This applies to all our services from the straightforward to the more complex.
Read legal insights, our comments on the latest legal updates and articles covering all types of legal queries and scenarios, written by experts from our teams.
A clear future together.
Working together, towards a better future.
We're committed to ensuring we attain our business objectives by operating and behaving in ways that benefit our employees, the community and the wider environment. We created our Giving Something Back forum to provide a focal point for our community activities. Here you’ll find partners and staff working together in support of charities, the environment and the wider community.
Chris became Chief Executive of the firm at the beginning of 2013 and has responsibility for driving the firm's strategic growth.
We have chosen to support SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) as our Charity Partner for 2018 as part of a wider focus on positive mental wellbeing in the workplace. Read the full release here.
The firm invited its 250 staff to vote for their preferred cause to support each year and mental health was the overwhelming choice.
The Scottish Association for Mental Health - known as SAMH - is Scotland's largest mental health charity. Every week, SAMH works with around 4,000 individuals in over 60 services and every day SAMH campaigns for better mental health for the people of Scotland.
Morton Fraser hopes to raise £10,000 this year through a variety of fundraising activities, auctions and events. So far this year our staff have committed to participating in the following activities -
20 March bake off, our staff were asked to bake up a storm to celebrate international day of happiness (photos below)
5-6 May 247 event, five members of staff will be participating in a 24-hour fitness event in Glasgow to raise money for SAMH and Common Wheel
12 May Gung-Ho event, staff will be participating in a 5km inflatable obstacle course in the Meadows, Edinburgh
16 September Kiltwalk, those staff who like to wear their kilts (and tartan outfits) will be trekking around Edinburgh for a 6, 13 or 26 mile walk
October SAMH stomp, staff who wish to increase their daily step count will be challenged to a 4,200 or 7,400 stair climb at Murrayfield stadium
December Santa Dash, who doesn't want to run 5KM through the streets of Glasgow in a Santa suit?
The firm also aims to use the tie-up to promote positive mental health throughout the workplace. It will use advice and guidance from the charity throughout the firm and offer information and resources as well as workshops to support staff.
Latest update:
On Saturday 5th to Sunday 6th May, a 24-hour fitness event took place in Glasgow to raise awareness of mental health issues and to raise funds for SAMH and Common Wheel. The event included 24hrs of Spin, Zumba, Grit, Tennis, Squash, Kids Football coaching, Metafit and Ballet for children. The fundraising target was £3,000, the money raised reached £6,200.
Several members of the MF team participated over the course of the 24 hour period racking up a total of 6 hours of spin.
To celebrate #InternationalDayOfHappiness and raise money for SAMH we asked our staff to bake. Here's a snapshot of our efforts. Total amount raised from today's efforts - £225.
If you would like to donate to SAMH, click here.
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London Marathon 2018
In the spirit of fundraising, our own James Rust and Gail Watt ran the 2018 London Marathon in 5 hours respectively in aid of Parkinson's UK. They raised a combined total of £7,679.88 for Parkinson's UK.
Fantastic effort from both and a huge total raised for a great cause!
Everyone at Morton Fraser is working towards reaching our goal for funds raised for our charity of the year.
Some of our key initiatives are set out below.
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CharitiesWe provide support to charities in a variety of ways. We donate to a number of charitable organisations, as well as getting actively involved in fundraising through various events and activities, from sporting events to fund-raising auctions. Each year our employees select a principal charity for the year; currently SAMH. We have previously supported charities including: Age Scotland, Sick Kids Friends Foundation Edinburgh, Ronald McDonald House Glasgow, Macmillan Cancer Support, Alzheimer's Research Scotland, The Bethany Trust, St Columba's Hospice in Edinburgh and the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Glasgow. We aim to raise over £10,000 each year. |
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DiversityWe have robust policies, excellent female role models and a supportive culture that helps deliver inclusion, diversity and equality. Around one-third of our partners are women and around one-third of our Managing Board are women. Many of our partners and employees are on a flexible working pattern. |
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Pro-bono workWe assist a number of charities through the provision of legal advice in situations where there are legitimate financial constraints. We also support the Citizens’ Advice Bureau with solicitor advisors, and provide meeting facilities to charity clients. |
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Notaries PublicA number of our solicitors are also Notaries Public, registered with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and are able to assist with the administering of Oaths in the UK and with notarising documents for use abroad. Where the documents are for use abroad and need to be translated, we can arrange for this through established contacts and where necessary, assist with obtaining an Apostille from the Foreign and Commonwealth Legalisation Office. For straightforward oaths and forms, we offer this service free of charge although you are welcome to make a discretionary donation to our Charity of the Year. |
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Placements and trainingWe offer a work experience programme in which school pupils undertake a week of learning in our office, gaining experience of a wide range of legal practice areas. We promote this programme actively, and combine it with school visits and other initiatives (including our support for the Scottish Schools Law Project) to inspire and encourage aspiring lawyers, as well as to increase the diversity of the profession. Many of our lawyers are involved in professional training through the universities and CPD providers. |
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EnvironmentWe make every effort to limit the environmental impact of our business and we have a range of initiatives in place to achieve this, such as providing extensive recycling facilities, implementing paperlight working procedures, and encouraging the use of walking, cycling, and public transport for both commuting and business trips. We are also members of the Legal Sector Alliance, a group of law firms who are committed to sharing ideas about reducing our impact on the environment. |
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Free Employment AdviceWe have partnered up with the Scottish Training Federation and Equate Scotland to offer a free 20 minute employment advice consultation service to their member organisations. Dealing with changes in employment law and ensuring compliance with the law is sometimes a bit of a maze. This service ensures that small to medium size businesses in Scotland have the support they need on hand. The service also aims to help those businesses avoid unlawful discrimination and to promote equality and diversity in their fields. |
