Addleshaw Goddard grows Scottish footprint as international expansion accelerates

Addleshaw Goddard has announced plans to boost its presence in Scotland, taking 83% more space in Glasgow and 60% more in Edinburgh as part of an office shake-up.

The relocation will see the firm take the entire fourth floor of 151-155 St Vincent Street in Glasgow and nearly 30,000 sq ft across the top four floors at 24 St Andrew Square in Edinburgh. Both moves are planned to happen next year.

The firm is growing fast in Scotland. AG says revenues rose 17% in the 2023/24 financial year, its seventh straight year of double-digit growth. It also has an office in Aberdeen and total Scotland headcount stands at 310 people.

Expansion

The upgrades are part of a wider growth push by the firm. AG expanded its Dublin presence with a move to larger offices earlier this year and is also in the process of refurbishing premises in the City to serve as its new, more spacious London HQ.

In February, the firm absorbed an 80-lawyer team from Linklaters to open in Warsaw, while just last week, AG opened an Abu Dhabi office, its fifth in the Middle East, to target growth sectors including energy, infrastructure and technology.

What they said

Alan Shanks, head of Scotland, said "These are exciting times for the firm in Scotland, and our new homes in Edinburgh and Glasgow will help fuel our ambitions", adding "The Scottish market has changed rapidly over the past decade, as it has elsewhere, and we offer a proposition that we feel sets us apart".

Managing partner Andrew Johnston said: "Our team led by Alan plays a vital role in enabling clients in Scotland to do business domestically and internationally. Increasing our office space in Edinburgh and Glasgow provides a platform for future growth as we continue to develop our services to meet the needs of clients".