Semple Fraser set for London office launch

Scottish firm Semple Fraser is preparing to extend its reach south of the border with a London office launch planned for late summer.

The 26-partner firm, which focuses on property, will open the office under former Berwin Leighton Paisner partner Gregory Calladine-Smith with the intention of making further hires in the local London market.

Managing partner Alister Fraser said: "We've been operating ;on ;a ;dual-jurisdictional basis for the past four to five years, so we have both Scottish and English-qualified lawyers. We've done a lot of deals south of the border and could see, having dipped our toes in the water, that we'd like to extend the practice down there. London seems the right place to do it."

Pointing out that the firm has had success acting for clients across the UK, Fraser admitted: "It won't be the biggest start-up the world ever saw."