Keeping it in the family

Two Scottish-based family business advisory firms have merged

News, 25 May 2005

Two Scottish-based family business advisory firms have merged to create a full service consultancy.

Family Business Solutions (FBS) has joined forces with The Family Council Works to meet the growing needs of family businesses across the UK and Europe. More than three-quarters of the UK’s largest 8,000 businesses are family firms.

FBS was originally a collaboration between Scottish solicitors Wright Johnston & Mackenzie, and Dr Barbara Murray, Director of the Family Enterprise at Glasgow Caledonian University.

Bill Gordon, founder of Family Council Works, is himself a member of Scotland’s largest family owned whisky firm – Wm Grant & Sons.

Ken McCracken, partner at Wright Johnston & Mackenzie and also a founding partner of FBS said: “Family businesses are crucial to the UK economy but are fraught with issues no other businesses have to face, such as managing the smooth transition from one generation to the next, improving governance, succession and the recruitment of outside non-executive directors.

"Our strengthened team will provide family firms of the UK and Europe with an unrivalled breadth and depth of knowledge and experience.

“We have a proven track record of success – we can adapt and exploit the competitive edge of our clients in an increasingly dynamic economic environment. Bill Gordon’s contribution will complement our specialist skills and add to that success.”