Dundee-based law firm Thorntons said it was planning further growth in the Central Belt as it revealed a jump in revenues last year.
The firm, which has legal offices and estate agents across Fife, Angus and Perth, has made several acquisitions in recent years as there has been consolidation across the Scottish legal sector.
These include the purchase of Fife firm Pagan Osborne in 2017 and the Edinburgh business of Morisons last March.
Accounts for the year ending May 31 show the firm’s turnover increased by more than 10% to £29.8 million from £27m in 2018.
Profit before members’ remuneration and profit shares rose from £5.8m in 2018 to £7.1m last year.
Managing partner Craig Nicol said: “We are now seeing the benefits of our acquisitions as well as organic growth.
“We will see further growth this year as we get the full benefits of the Morisons deal. We also opened a Glasgow office in March as a consequence of client demand.
“Edinburgh now has 80 staff, which includes eight partners and 15 staff from Morisons, and we see an opportunity to grow further there as well as build in Glasgow.
“But we will also continue to be absolutely focused on delivering top quality services into our heartland base of Dundee and our other locations.”
Thorntons has 11 offices and employs 500 people, with around half the workforce based at its headquarters at Yeaman Shore in Dundee.
Mr Nicol said the firm’s 57 partners had a “strong desire” for further growth with a five-year plan being finalised.
He predicted the firm’s clients would be “more positive” about making investments this year and that Brexit would cause the need for more advice.
“Brexit will bring requirements for advice because that happens with any regulatory change,” he said.
“The biggest impact will be the commercial challenges this brings for some of our clients.
“Improving the efficiency of our operational processes is also a key focus and will drive future levels of service and profitability.
“As we embark on planning for the next five years, we are confident we now have a stable platform to grow further in the short and medium term.
“We will continue to invest in our people, premises and technology to ensure that clients and our commitment to them continue to be our focus for the future.”
rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk