Bowmans, a legal firm with more than 150 years presence in Tayside, has been acquired by Gilson Gray.
Bowmans Solicitors’ 11 staff, including principal Elizabeth McGillivray, are joining the West Marketgait-based Gilson Gray team.
Gilson Gray will now have an office in Forfar, as well as taking an extra floor in its existing building where the Bank of Scotland once stood.
It is the latest acquisition the firm has made since moving to Dundee in 2020, following the take-over of Baillie Shepherd in 2021 and the financial arm’s purchase of Wilson Financial and RS Robertson Financial Planning last year.
Gilson Gray praise Angus Bowmans expansion
Gilson Gray partner Lindsay Darroch said expanding the operation into Angus showed the firm’s commitment to the industry and the area.
The head of Gilson Gray’s Dundee office, said: “Bowmans is a long-established reputable firm and I have known Elizabeth for around three decades.
“The takeover is a natural fit and we both share similar values in terms of delivering top-quality legal advice and serving clients in the local area.
“The rate of growth has once again exceeded our expectations and we have leased an additional floor at our city centre offices to accommodate the larger team with room for further development.
“The new office in Forfar also ties in with our strategy for business development.
“While other firms are retreating from the market and clients, we see it as a huge opportunity for the firm to further develop in Angus complementing our city centre offerings.”
Glen Gilson, chair and managing partner of Gilson Gray, added: “The takeover of Bowmans in Dundee marks the start of another year of our planned growth.
“Since launching in 2014 Gilson Gray has built a reputation for disruption in the legal sector and we are now one of the few independent Scottish firms of scale left in the market.”
‘Exciting time’ for Bowmans
Bowmans solicitors were founded in 1847 and have offices in Dundee and Angus.
Elizabeth McGillivray has more than forty years experience in the legal profession, having joined Bowmans in the 1980s.
She served as clerk of the Three United Trades of Dundee for almost 20 years.
Ms McGillivray said: “Joining Gilson Gray is only the start of the next chapter for Bowmans after 150 years as a legal firm.
“It is a great opportunity for my team and our clients, who now gain access to a full suite of legal expertise across the country to support and enhance the quality and standard of service we are known for.”
