Dundas and Harper Mcleod lead strong year for Scots

Scotland's largest firm Dundas & Wilson has announced a 23.6 per cent revenue hike to £74.8m from £60.8m the year before.

The rise confirmed a strong year for the Scottish firm, which recently boosted its ranks with the lateral hires of employment partner Robert Davies from Clifford Chance and Colin Boyd QC, the former Scottish Lord Advocate, to head up its public law practice.

Managing partner Donald Shaw said: "We're in a good place, with strong growth across the UK and in line with our strategy, winning significant new corporate business in London. The next year is likely to be a more complex time for the whole legal and business sector, but we have a strong foundation for further progress."

Scottish rival Harper Macleod posted a revenue increase of 16.4 per cent to £14.2m from £12.2m the previous year.

The firm has announced plans to expand its Glasgow office and expand and relocate its Edinburgh office. The past year was also notable for a 'green' yardstick for Harper Macleod, after 2007/08 saw it become the first carbon neutral Scottish law firm.

Commenting on the results, chief executive Martin Darroch said the firm's "retender programme" was key feature of the past 12 months.

"Our overall tender success rate is currently approaching one in two, bucking the industry average of one in seven," said Darroch. "We are well positioned in terms of our cost base, clients and contracts to meet the challenges and opportunities of continued growth in the future, despite a difficult market."