Pagan Osborne Solicitors acquired by Thorntons

Update | Pagan Osborne

1 September 2017

Scottish law firm Thorntons has acquired the assets, goodwill and work-in-progress of Pagan Osborne following the appointment today (Friday 1st September) of Tom MacLennan and Iain Fraser, Partners with FRP Advisory, as joint administrators of Pagan Osborne Limited, the Fife-based legal practice.

The deal, which is for an undisclosed sum, will see the immediate transfer of 10 Pagan Osborne partners and 113 staff to Thorntons. However, a minimum 45 day redundancy consultation period will start next week, with Pagan Osborne’s offices in Edinburgh, Cupar and St Andrews set to close. All staff in those offices will be advised that they are at risk of redundancy pending a review of employment requirements. The Pagan Osborne office in Anstruther will be retained and rebranded as Thorntons, although some redundancies will be required there as well. Thorntons plans to save around 50 jobs.

Commenting on the acquisition, Tom MacLennan, partner at FRP Advisory and joint administrator, said: “We are delighted that Thorntons has acquired the assets, goodwill and work-in-progress of Pagan Osborne, thus ensuring continuity of client service, providing employment opportunities and safeguarding client funds. We wish the newly enlarged business every success.”

Craig Nicol, joint managing partner of Thorntons, commented: “Pagan Osborne was a long-standing, highly respected firm with a high profile in Fife and Edinburgh. Our priority will be to provide a seamless transition for clients and to preserve the maximum number of jobs. We will be in contact with all Pagan Osborne clients imminently and I would seek to reassure them that they will receive continuity of service from the newly-enlarged Thorntons team for their legal or property matters in the coming days and weeks.”

About Thorntons

Thorntons’ roots can be traced back to 1857. Over the generations, Thorntons has grown to become one of Scotland’s largest and most successful full service legal and property firms with offices across Fife, Edinburgh, Dundee, Perthshire and Angus.

Our success is built on investment in our services and people resulting in high quality advice, coupled with exceptional client care. By taking time to understand our clients’ specific needs we’re able to deliver solutions for the long term. We are on hand to answer any questions or concerns you have regarding the Pagan Osborne Administration. You can get in touch with your usual contact or email us and we will respond as soon as possible.

Your questions answered

If you have any questions that are not answered below, please get in touch with your usual contact or email us.

I have an ongoing matter, what should I do?

You will receive a letter about any ongoing matters Pagan Osborne were dealing with for you. The letter will detail what will happen next and what you are required to do. It is important that you read the letter and if you have any questions you can contact the person you have been dealing with. If you don’t receive a letter by 7 September please contact us

I have a property on the market, what should I do?

You will receive a letter about your property sale. The letter will detail what will happen next and what you are required to do. It is important that you read the letter and if you have any questions you can contact the sales negotiator you have been dealing with. If you don’t receive a letter by 7 September please contact us.

I have an appointment booked with a someone next week, will it go ahead?

If you have an appointment arranged it will go ahead as planned. However you will now be instructing Thorntons Law LLP. If for any reason the appointment needs to be changed someone will contact you to arrange another convenient date.

Pagan Osborne prepared my Will, do I need to do anything?

If you have used Pagan Osborne in the past and the firm held a Will for you, you don’t need to do anything at the current time. Following the acquisition, all files and documents previously held by Pagan Osborne are now in the safe custody of Thorntons.

We appreciate you may be concerned about these important documents and we can reassure you that any documents held on your behalf by Pagan Osborne will continue to be stored securely by Thorntons. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your business with us then please feel free to contact one of our offices or email us.

Pagan Osborne hold my property Titles, do I need to do anything?

If you have used Pagan Osborne in the past and the firm held a Title Deeds for you, you don’t need to do anything at the current time. Following the acquisition, all files and documents previously held by Pagan Osborne are now in the safe custody of Thorntons.

We appreciate you may be concerned about these important documents and we can reassure you that any documents held on your behalf by Pagan Osborne will continue to be stored securely by Thorntons. If you wish to discuss any aspect of your business with us then please feel free to contact one of our offices or email us.