The independently owned legal firm records 60% growth as it builds its team to support significant opportunities in the Highlands and Islands.
Independent Scottish law firm Thorntons is celebrating the first anniversary of its Inverness office, which has grown its team by more than 60% to offer a unique high-quality, full-service capability to individuals and businesses based in the Highlands.
Launching with a team of 13, the Inverness office now employs 21 people, including three partners and nine solicitors, delivering a full range of legal services ranging from residential property sales to renewable energy advice.
Thorntons’ commitment to the Highlands reflects rising investment in the local economy. With some of the largest projects in Scotland taking place in the region, including the Cromarty Firth Green Freeport which is estimated to attract £3bn in investment, Thorntons has assembled a team of highly experienced, locally based experts to help maximise growing opportunities in the north.
Offering both an intimate local knowledge of the region and bolstered by a team of over 600 including 77 Partners and 143 solicitors operating across Scotland, Thorntons’ Inverness practice brings a unique perspective to the market.
Among its growing client base are both landowners and developers servicing the renewable energy sector; housebuilders; commercial property businesses; landed estates and farmers; corporates; and working with clients on wills, powers of attorneys and executries. As a popular place of resettlement for people fleeing conflict in Ukraine, Thorntons has seen a significant rise in immigration requests across the Highlands since 2023 and it is an increasingly sought-after location by US citizens with Scottish roots.
With a booming property market in Inverness, the firm recently appointed Emma MacLaren, who has over a decade of experience, to become its first estate agent based in the city. Thorntons is now marketing its first Highlands homes from Inverness.
Also boosting the team is corporate solicitor Scott Kenyon. Scott, who joined Thorntons’ Inverness office in March, specialises in corporate law and advises businesses on a wide range of legal matters, including mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations, and corporate governance.
As the firm grows its presence it has also increased its community focus, supporting and engaging with local charities including the Highland Hospice and Mikeys Line.
Paul Adams, partner and head of Thorntons’ Inverness office, said: “There was a notable gap both in Inverness and the wider Highland and Islands market for an experienced law firm which can handle a wide variety of complex and largescale legal matters, and we have created a team that can confidently undertake and deliver on this type of work.
“Thorntons is one of the country’s largest and most adept independent law firms, which acts as an accelerator for clients and for Scotland. There are outstanding opportunities for growth in the local area, and after building up a strong presence in the marketplace in our first year, our focus is now on developing our team further and nurturing our network to drive forward progress.
“As locally based advisers, we take great pride in seeing the impact of our work on a daily basis. It’s really rewarding to know the wind turbines we have been involved with are supporting the production of clean energy, or to visit a café which our team has assisted. It’s an incredibly exciting time for the Highlands and the diverse legal services we offer can help the region to thrive.”
Thorntons is a top 100 UK law firm, as declared by The Lawyer 2024, and reported a 16% rise in gross income for the financial year May 31, 2024.