News In Focus
4 February 2010
Aberdeen law firm believes worst of recession is over
A Scottish law firm believes the worst of the recession is over, following a period of significant staff expansion.
Aberdeen-based Aberdein Considine & Company, which was one of the first legal practices to make significant redundancies as the recession hit in mid-2008, has completed a major recruitment drive, with 29 new employees joining the firm in the last three months, and a further nine positions having recently been offered and accepted.
The recruitment initiative brings the firm’s total workforce up to just over 230 members of staff.
Senior partner Iain Considine commented: “Like many others in the North-east, we suffered from the recession which hit very suddenly midway through 2008.
“We were fortunate that the broad nature of our practice shielded us to some extent, but we were forced to retrench which was a very painful exercise for all concerned.
Further recruitment
“I am delighted that we have now been able to restore staff levels and, indeed, are planning further recruitment.”
He added that the firm, which operates three divisions – legal, property and financial – has seen moderate improvement in the property market, which has led to increased staff numbers but it is in the financial sphere and, particularly, legal services that it has seen the biggest turnaround.
Mr Considine continued: “Recent business wins from major national companies have meant a significant increase in business for our litigation department. The total number of solicitors and paralegals in this department now sits at 13 and we do see a continuing increase in volumes of litigation business. There has also been a return to activity in our corporate and commercial department.”