Eyebrows at a number of traditional firms were raised when a 27-year old lawyer was appointed as an associate partner at the law firm of Henderson Boyd Jackson. But since taking on the role Glen Gilson has kept his head down and got on with the job as he explains to the Firm.

It’s one of the oldest and often most acrimonious debates inside a legal firm. When does youthful drive overtake experienced reflection when it comes to choosing partners for the firm?
Like a football coach, most managing partners will say it is subtle blend of youth and experience that creates the ideal alchemy inside a law firm. Often it’s something more pragmatic: who are the lawyers bringing in the best and most profitable clients?
While many Scottish firms have been tinkering with the composition of their partnerships, Edinburgh firm Henderson Boyd Jackson has taken some bold but calculated steps.
As revealed in The Firm, Henderson Boyd Jackson has appointed, Stewart McIntyre, a non-lawyer, to the newly created post of Chief Executive.
McIntyre, 48, an accountant, was previously Chief Operating Officer at Intelli Corporate Finance in Edinburgh.
The move follows a strategic review of the partnership by HBJ’s five-strong board, which opted to abolish the traditional role of Managing Partner. The last occupant was Philip Dacker, a highly respected former Dundas & Wilson Partner who has steered HBJ as Managing Partner for five years. He left last year after a restructuring aimed at promoting young, talented lawyers into senior positions.
One such young blade is Glen Gilson. Seven months ago, when he was appointed an Associate Partner in private client services at the age of 27, there were some eyebrows raised at one or two staid Edinburgh rivals.
“I’m sure there were some comments made about my youth. I just have to get my head down and prove that I can do the job. So far, I think we’re achieving a great deal,” says Gilson, a law graduate from the Universities of Edinburgh and Dundee.
Gilson has certainly built a profile: he has already made an impression with several interviews on Newsnight Scotland handling issues such as parental rights to access. More significantly, the organic growth of the private client side has been dramatic and the firm now boasts one of the largest private client practices in Scotland.
“I’ve been brought in to grow HBJ’s Private Client practice and already we’ve seen an increase in our business simply by being better organised and identifying what the clients really need. We are much more client focused, providing the comprehensive service they want and when they want it,” he says. “The firm has a dynamic commercial ethos which the private client division seeks to complement.”
Within a department of 20, Gilson’s role has been to consolidate the existing practice and drive the expansion of taxation, trust and succession planning work, family law business, property related business (residential conveyancing and agricultural/estate work), as well as independent financial advice and general wealth management. Gilson has overseen the firm’s application for FSA authorisation.
Gilson joined from Turcan Connell, where he gained experience of private client business, and his position highlights Henderson Boyd Jackson’s more comprehensive approach to servicing its private clients.
“I believe it is a matter of ensuring that everyone in the business understands the skills and expertise available. There’s no point in someone doing a business deal with the firm’s Corporate Department and then walking off to get their private client work done elsewhere. There are efficiencies and savings that can be made by offering clients a more holistic service.”
Gilson is just one of the young lawyers who has benefited from the strategic review.
Malcolm McPherson, HBJ’s Chairman, says the arrival of McIntyre, who had been well-known as a client of the firm, will now help execute the ambitious growth plans hatched in the wake of the overhaul. McIntyre has expertise in the field of financial regulation and pensions.
In a recent report McPherson said: “Lawyers can be a bit prissy in their view of themselves but we decided some time ago to take a much more robust line towards the business, which wasn’t growing as quickly as we wanted.
“Partnership had become a bit too comfortable and I think that was recognised by everybody. We had to have a close look at who the Partners were in the business and who could contribute the most. We found we had a raft of extremely able and very energetic young people who were pushing towards Partnership stature.
“We recognised vacancies had to be created to allow these people in.”
So several older equity partners have moved on and, at the beginning of 2005, three new appointments – Alan Shanks, (corporate), Andy Ley, (corporate) and Ed Watt, (maritime) – were made.
“There has been a significant change in the age profile of the business, and I hope that gives us fresh energy to go forward. I feel it does work well in a company such as HBJ. There are strong possibilities of giving the clients a better, across-the-board service.”
Some seasoned legal practitioners will be watching with interest from the sidelines. This is something Gilson understands.
“I know that people are watching and waiting. That’s life. I am simply one member of a large team, which includes individual practitioners with over twenty years experience in their fields. Together I am sure we shall do a first-rate job for HBJ and their clients.”