More new jobs to Scotland as Ashurst invests

Scottish Enterprise today welcomed the announcement by Ashurst LLP of plans to locate a new legal and business support services office in Glasgow.

Ashurst has become the first international law firm to launch this kind of office in Scotland.

The project is being supported by regional selective assistance from Scottish Enterprise. It is expected to bring around 150 high-quality jobs in the first year, with the potential for more as the business grows.

The planned office will open later this year, with legal work initially focused on some document review processes in the Finance and Dispute Resolution practices.

Over time the plan is to extend the legal service across all practices, with the overall objective of creating a centre of excellence to deliver a high quality, consistent and cost efficient service to the broader Ashurst network.

Mike Polson, a former senior corporate partner at Dundas & Wilson who has a longstanding relationship with Ashurst, will head up the office. An experienced partner from a leading Scottish firm, Mike brings significant understanding of the local market to the new venture.

"Replicating the culture and quality for which Ashurst is known while driving greater operational efficiency is undoubtedly an exciting opportunity," he said.

"We believe the office will help to shape an alternative legal model and career structure in Scotland, benefiting from the high number of exceptional legal graduates.

“Ashurst has some bold aspirations for the office and I am thoroughly looking forward to playing a part in this project and delivering on our twin goals of excellence and innovation."

James Collis, managing partner of Ashurst, added: "The shape of the legal services market is changing and clients want their law firms to take responsibility for efficient sourcing of services without compromising on quality.

“We believe our new venture in Scotland will be of great benefit to the firm and its clients.”

Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Lena Wilson said: "Scotland has an established – and growing - international reputation for the excellence of its legal services sector. This, together with a skilled workforce, excellent business infrastructure and extensive business support networks, has helped secure this valuable inward investment and these exceptional job opportunities.

"This project will deliver high quality, permanent jobs to the Scottish legal sector while supporting one of our key development areas. We're very pleased to have been instrumental in attracting such a high-calibre employer to locate in Scotland, particularly against significant competition. We look forward to continuing to work in partnership with Ashurst as it establishes its Scottish base."

Lorna Jack, chief executive of the Law Society of Scotland added: "It is great to see Ashurst deciding to base its legal and business support office in Glasgow. It shows the high regard for Scotland as a place to do business and for our legal sector which contributes well over £1 billion to the Scottish economy every year and is responsible for around 20,000 jobs.

"It is also a big vote of confidence in our education system and the calibre of our law graduates. In an ever more challenging legal market, I know these additional jobs and the opportunities they offer graduates will be warmly welcomed.

"Scotland, as with the rest of the world, is seeing a fast-changing landscape in legal services. That is why it is so positive to see this new and additional legal work being brought to Glasgow."

In deciding to open an office in Glasgow, the firm undertook an analysis of several global options. Key attractions of Scotland included the quality of the talent pool, number of available graduates, infrastructure, accessibility, strength of the legal industry and the regional support offered by Scottish Enterprise. There is no plan to practice Scots law, nor will the office compete with Scottish law firms.