Alex Carpenter, Associate Director, discusses the private practice market in Scotland over the past year, and looks ahead to 2026.
From Alex Carpenter
Reflecting on the last 12 months, 2025 has been another positive year for the Scottish legal market. Whilst some disciplines have remained quiet, others have continued to flourish, with positive signs as we enter 2026.
Growth story
Once again, we have seen encouraging signs in terms of growth and expansion. We have seen a lot impressive news, including:
- Lewis Silkin launched its Scottish offering, establishing a new Employment team in Glasgow.
- TLT relocated to a new office in Edinburgh and expanded its Glasgow office, driven by notable growth and impressive turnover figures.
- MFMac saw profits rise 30 per cent following its 2023 merger.
- Brodies' expansion continued with the very recent news of the opening of a Leeds office, demonstrating its continued commitment to expansion on the English side of the border.
- Freeths has continued to attract talent in Glasgow since opening its doors in 2023, with multiple key Partner hires this year.
- Addleshaw Goddard announced two new offices in Edinburgh and Glasgow, highlighting its commitment/growth plans and increasing its footprint across the market following another year of double-digit growth.
- Ashurst recently announced its merger with US firm Peterkins Coie.
Practice areas
Areas such as corporate and commercial have remained quiet on the junior side again this year, with senior opportunities being more frequent. However, we have seen some reassuring signs in relation to more junior opportunities toward the end of the year.
The property sphere has remained buoyant. Commercial property and residential property opportunities have been consistent this year, and the energy/renewables side of the market has remained very encouraging.
The arrival of Lewis Silkin in Glasgow in August, as an employment specialist, kick-started the appetite for firms to recruit additional employment lawyers.
The civil disciplines have also seen consistency this year. Family roles have seen a pick-up in the second half of the year and private client has been steady throughout.
It was a delayed start to the year for employment law, with limited opportunities in the first half of 2025, though there was a notable rebound in opportunities following the summer months.
The arrival of Lewis Silkin in Glasgow in August, as an employment specialist, kick-started the appetite for firms to recruit additional employment lawyers, and the market has remained buoyant ever since.
The appetite chiefly remains around the senior solicitor (2PQE) and above mark, but remains busy with new opportunities for experienced solicitors.
Personal injury, and the wider insurance market, has experienced a stellar 2025 for pursuer and defender practices alike. From RTA to professional indemnity, the personal injury and insurance market has been consistently busy with opportunities from January to December, with genuine interest from firms to recruit at all experience levels.
With so much momentum and activity within the market, it is highly likely the market will remain busy well into 2026.
Salaries
Much like the last few years, salaries have remained impressive across the market. The National and International firms continue to compete with very notable salary increases throughout, and the domestic firms are very much the same.
The National and International firms continue to compete with very notable salary increases throughout, and the domestic firms are very much the same.
If salary information, or a general insight into the Scottish market for this year and 2026, could be of interest, please feel free to get in touch with me or my colleague Cameran to arrange a confidential chat.
The legal market has displayed plenty of positive signs in 2025, with reassuring signals for 2026!
