KNOWLEDGE

"Talent First" Approach Reaps Rewards at Morton Fraser

Morton Fraser Chief Executive Chris Harte
Author
Chris Harte
Chief Executive and Partner
PUBLISHED:
22 July 2019
Audience:
category:
Press Release

Morton Fraser has recorded like for like revenue growth for a 6th consecutive year after investing heavily in specialist legal talent.

The firm has used the last twelve months to refine its offering by divesting its residential property offering while investing in specialists across a number of its market-leading teams, including banking and finance, corporate, commercial real estate, employment, medical negligence, private client and rural property.

Morton Fraser also created two legal technologist roles with a focus on how to optimise its use of technology to deliver benefits for clients.

Chris Harte, Chief Executive, said: “Investing in people has allowed us to build some of the strongest specialist legal teams in the country. The divestment of our residential property department and the creation of legal technologist roles has focused our offering on core legal services at a time when clients are seeking embedded, independent advice about the Scottish landscape.”

Total like-for-like headcount has increased at Morton Fraser by six per cent with like-for-like revenues up by five per cent to nearly £22m. The firm continues to recognise the contribution of all staff via its company-wide bonus scheme, with employees earning up to 10% of their salary this year.

Morton Fraser has played a vital role in some major transactions in Scotland in the last 12 months, including advising Diageo on the development of its new Johnnie Walker visitor experience, as well as acting for the investment arm of Singapore Press Holdings in relation to the acquisition of several purpose-built student accommodation assets in Scotland.

This year’s positive performance also included the appointment of Scotland’s largest Property in Pensions team to provide expert legal services on a new panel administered by Curtis Banks, one of the UK’s leading providers of Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs). The firm was also appointed to provide extensive legal services to VisitScotland’s property portfolio.

Morton Fraser was the only Scottish law firm to appear in the Sunday Times Best Companies to Work For 2019 list, following the introduction of its 'agile working' policy, as part of a wider focus on organisational flexibility and employee wellbeing.

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The content of this webpage is for information only and is not intended to be construed as legal advice and should not be treated as a substitute for specific advice. Morton Fraser LLP accepts no responsibility for the content of any third party website to which this webpage refers.  Morton Fraser LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.