The 2018 Scottish Legal Awards has presented Addleshaw Goddard Senior Partner for Scotland, Malcolm McPherson, with its Managing Partner of the Year award.
The award, for which there is no submission process, was agreed by an independent panel and announced in front of a record crowd of 450 lawyers. Malcolm was among 17 winning businesses, teams and individuals in the annual competition which rewards the best of Scottish legal practice across the country.
The senior leadership award was presented to Malcolm in recognition of his leadership of the successful merger between Addleshaw Goddard and HBJ, which has created a top 15 UK law firm, as well as the high regard in which he is held across the business community in Scotland.
In presenting the award to Malcolm, the judging panel said:
"….With a career of over 40 years as a senior figure in Scottish corporate law, the award tonight goes to someone who probably needs no introduction at all. He's been at the helm of one of Scotland's most entrepreneurial law firms through its various guises since about 1982…a firm full of high quality, likeminded, hard-working lawyers who delivered results. Their success created financial strength. The completed merger moved the old with the new firms seamlessly…."
The Judging panel singled out the headcount growth across the Scottish practice since the merger nearly a year ago which currently stands at around 15 per cent, and most recently included the hires of two partners from Burness Paull - Head of Data, Ross McKenzie, and Lorna Finlayson, who was head of its financial services regulatory practice.
Malcolm McPherson said:
"I am tremendously proud of the success our business has achieved over many years, and it is a huge honour to accept this award which is testament to the consistently strong growth across our client portfolio, headcount and turnover, as well as a special culture which has, in combination, provided the basis for a hugely successful merger and cementing our reputation as a leading firm in Scotland, as well as further afield. I'm delighted that these achievements have been recognised by the independent panel of judges and congratulate the very many talented colleagues who have made and continue to make important contributions to the success of our business and client relationships."
