North-east legal practices merge

TWO long-established north-east legal practices, James & George Collie and Kinnear & Falconer, have joined forces.

Aberdeen-based Collie has acquired the much smaller Stonehaven firm.

The two legal practices have been in business for more than 300 years between them.

The move follows a four-year association between the firms, which had seen Collie do all back office work for Kinnear & Falconer.

The latter will continue to trade under its present name, but as a division of Collie.

One of Kinnear & Falconer’s partners, Graham Garden, becomes a partner with Collie and has also assumed responsibility as managing partner of the Stonehaven operation.

Denis Daun, Kinnear & Falconer’s other partner, has become a consultant with the merged firm.

Tony Dawson, senior partner at Collie, said: “My firm is absolutely delighted with the merger. Both Denis and Graham will bring additional skills and experience to the practice.

“This is the latest of a series of mergers and acquisitions which have seen the firm continue to expand in a time of recession by acquiring the businesses of Kinnear & Falconer, but also of Churchill and Co in Aberdeen, and the assumption of Brian Sutton as a partner.”

Collie now has 12 partners and around 80 staff, while there are six staff at the Kinnear & Falconer division.

There will be no job losses as a result of the deal.