Achi news desk-
At the time, his success, both in practice and at the awards, was a clear indicator of his desire to shake up the legal landscape in Scotland and sixteen years later the potential recognized by that early accolade has to realize more than what it is at the moment. Chairman and Managing Partner of one of the fastest growing law firms in the country.
This year alone, Gilson Gray, which it founded in 2014, has acquired legal practices in Dundee and Edinburgh and has made key appointments to its own marketing and business development divisions.
With offices in Glasgow, Aberdeen, East Lothian and also Lincoln, Gilson Gray is reversing the trend that has seen English law firms expand northwards, which Gilson believes is a potential threat to the country’s legal sovereignty. Scotland.
“There is a risk that decisions made outside the sector will be made without a full understanding of the Scottish market.”
The reasons behind the rapid expansion of his own company are partly driven by a determination to be big enough to attract the very best talent and here he has very clear ideas about the type of candidates he is looking for. n search for them.
“At Gilson Gray we have a dynamic and driven culture. We are not interested in colour, creed, gender or orientation, we want fast moving people to provide exceptional service to our clients. Character is key.”
A clear indication of how successful Gilson Gray has been in finding the right people is the fact that the firm won many accolades at the Herald Law Awards for Scotland, including the Litigation Team and also the Debt Recovery Team for the last two consecutive years.
These awards, says Gilson, are even more relevant because they are peer recognition within the Scottish legal sector and would encourage other solicitors and law firms to take part in them too.
“Lawyers are self-regulating and they care what other lawyers think of them, they want to test themselves against members of the profession and The Herald Law Awards for Scotland allows them to do that .”
Gilson himself is a passionate advocate for anything that supports that profession and the entire Scottish business community and has spoken openly in the past about the need for Government, both in Scotland and across the UK, to focus much more on the needs. of the country’s business sector.
“This is not a partisan position in any way, it’s about the fact that business creates jobs. We have to protect the best interests of the economic future of this country and that means being realistic about where money will be generated. Business pays taxes and taxes pay for everything. Yet politicians make it difficult for businesses because they pursue populist agendas and are unwilling to make difficult, but necessary, decisions. Keep it up and we will suffer greatly, through brain drain and a drop in GDP, so we need to work this out quickly.”
Momentum is Gilson’s favored position, it is what has quickly promoted him through the ranks to become a senior figure in the Scottish legal landscape. Now he wants to see the same pace of change applied by those who make the rules that companies like his operate within.
This year the Herald Law Awards for Scotland will mark their 20th anniversary and we are delighted to revisit past winners who have continued to make their mark on the Scottish legal sector, inspiring others in their field, and showcasing the talent we have across the country. . The awards, sponsored by Idex Consulting, the Law Society of Scotland, and Stirling Park, are now open. There are 16 categories to enter this year including the Up and Coming Award previously won by Glen, while the Solicitor of the Year sponsored by the Law Society of Scotland will award those individuals with significant legal skills and innovative approaches. Litigation Team of the Year and Debt Recovery Team of the Year, both sponsored by Stirling Park, remain strong categories, along with the coveted Law Firm of the Year awards sponsored by Idex Consulting. Further details of the exciting plans to mark the special anniversary year will be announced shortly.
Find out more at https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/lawawards/
