Fast growing Edinburgh law firm Gilson Gray completes latest transaction

Gilson Gray Financial Management has acquired Edinburgh-based Sarah Hughes Wealth Management in a deal that will take total assets under management to nearly £500m – a 40% increase in 12 months. It quickly follows GGFM’s acquisition of North Berwick-based Scott Wallace Financial Planning late last year.

Sarah Hughes Wealth Management has been a senior partner practice in the St James’s Place network since 1997, specializing in advising high net worth individuals with complex financial needs across the UK.

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Sarah Hughes, a licensed financial planner with nearly three decades of experience, and her team will join GGFM and will now offer their clients access to Gilson Gray’s integrated legal and real estate services.

Steve Herkes, Managing Director of GGFM said: “Having known Sarah for a number of years, she has a reputation as a top-notch financial planner with a great focus on tailoring services to the needs of her clients.

“She will be a great addition to our team, mentoring more junior colleagues and helping to further develop our private client offering. At the same time, their clients will benefit from access to a broader range of financial, real estate and legal services, making the acquisition a perfect fit for both companies.

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“Onboarding Sarah Hughes Wealth Management is the first in a series of deals that we hope to close in 2023, which will expand our footprint and offering across Scotland, building on the very active past few years.”

Sarah Hughes said, “Rather than focusing on the size of the business, I’ve always wanted to maintain the level of service that my customers expect. Joining the GGFM team will provide us with the regulatory and administrative support we need to remain focused on our clients’ needs while delivering value through Gilson Gray’s broader offering. I look forward to starting a new phase and seeing what we can achieve as part of GGFM.”

The deal comes the same week that Gilson Gray acquired The Law Practice in Aberdeen.