Blain to succeed Gibb as Shepherd & Wedderburn managing partner

Commercial legal firm Shepherd & Wedderburn has elected Andrew Blain as its managing partner with effect from 1 May 2019, succeeding Stephen Gibb who is steppiong down after seven years at the helm.

Mr Blain has been a member of Shepherd & Wedderburn’s board since 2009, as divisional director of the Corporate division. Corporate partner Stephen Trombala takes on that role with immediate effect. 

Mr Gibb, who was first elected in 2012, led the firm through the aftermath of the global financial crisis and on the acquisitions of Tods Murray in 2014 and The Commercial Law Practice in Aberdeen in 2016. Over that period the firm has grown from 360 people to almost 500, and reported record financial results on its 250th anniversary last year with revenue up 6% to £53.5m and profits before partner distributions up 10% to £22m. Mr Gibb will return to practice as a corporate partner.

Paul Hally, chairman of Shepherd & Wedderburn, commented: “I look forward to working with Andrew to lead the firm in the next phase of its strategic development. Thanks to Stephen we have a strong foundation on which to build. It is a time of great change in our market with many exciting opportunities. We have a great team to support our firm and, most importantly, our clients.”