Scottish firm on hiring spree from rivals

Leading Scottish law firm Shepherd & Wedderburn is recruiting three partners from rival firms, including a second corporate partner from Edinburgh-based Fyfe Ireland.

The move re-establishes the firm's position as one of the top five firms in Scotland. It was momentarily ousted in the aftermath of the merger between Bishop & Robertson Chalmers and Alex Morrison & Co to form Morrison Bishop in August.

Malcolm Gillies is joining Shepherd & Wedderburn as an investment funds partner, three months after colleague Stephen Gibb, formerly head of corporate at Fyfe Ireland, made the same move.

The firm has also recruited former Dundas & Wilson banking partner Shona Sanders to boost its banking group, and has poached an associate from a leading Scottish construction firm as a partner. Chris Arnold from MacRoberts in Edinburgh will join Shepherd & Wedderburn's construction team.

Paul Hally, chief executive at the firm, says: "The strategy of our firm at the moment is to become the premier commercial firm in Scotland, and it was recognised that organic growth would not be either sufficient or quick enough.

"We have been delighted with the calibre of the people we have been able to attract," he says, and adds there will be more lateral hires in the near future.