Leading firms forge partnership

Bell & Scott to transfer £1m of private client business to Pagan Osborne

News, 21 July 2005

Bell & Scott has agreed a deal to transfer £1m of private client business to Pagan Osborne.

This deal represents the beginning of a strategic arrangement between the two firms. Going forward, Bell & Scott will undertake commercial property and corporate work for Pagan Osborne clients, while Pagan Osborne will provide private client services to Bell & Scott clients.

Twelve members of Bell & Scott’s staff and two of its partners, Sue Calder and Ewen Dyce, will join Pagan Osborne.

Alistair Morris, managing partner at Pagan Osborne, said: “This is a collaborative deal which is of benefit to both firms. Pagan Osborne is committed to providing a first class private client service and we will continue to look for opportunities to further build our business profile.

“This relationship will result in both firms being stronger, both individually and collectively. It allows Pagan Osborne to add £1m of high quality private client business to its portfolio while building a partnership with a legal firm whose skills and expertise complement our own.

“With the correct mechanisms in place and a commitment to making it work, this represents the beginning of a strong partnership between Pagan Osborne and Bell & Scott.”

Alistair Morris went on to say: “I also believe that partnerships of this nature, while unusual at the moment, will become more commonplace amongst speciality firms as the commercialisation of legal firms, as laid out in Lord Falconer’s recommendations, take effect in Scotland.”

Iain MacDonald, managing partner at Bell & Scott, said: “With Bell & Scott’s focus firmly on growing our core commercial property business, this deal will free up resources for further investment in staff training and development, and allow us to continue providing a first class service in our area of expertise.”