'Many of my clients have become friends' says Moray solicitor retiring after 40 years
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MORE families and businesses are moving to Moray because it is such an attractive place to live and work.
That's the view of Elgin solicitor Ian Davidson who has retired after nearly 40 years in practice.
Mr Davidson, a partner at law firm Harper Macleod, has called time on his full-time legal career.
However, he will remain a consultant with the firm as the local Harper Macleod team aims to add more specialist services and lawyers.
Since Wink & Mackenzie merged with national firm Harper Macleod in 2019, there has been a 35 per cent increase in the number of people based at its office at the Old Station in Elgin.
Harper Macleod recognises the strength of the local economy, particularly the impact of large employers and new businesses coming into the area.
Mr Davidson said: “I do sometimes scratch my head when I see statistics about the national property market, because there is so much variation between different areas in the country and even within local markets. I think it’s fair to say that the Moray property market is pretty robust, stable and tends not to see the extreme highs or lows which other parts of the country experience.
"A lot of that is down to the strength of the local economy with many large and small employers and the armed forces investing in the area.
“We’re seeing more families and businesses coming into Moray, particularly since the Covid pandemic, because it is such an attractive place to live and work.
"There is so much to do on your doorstep particularly if you enjoy sport and outdoor pursuits. The quality of life is a huge attraction and the Moray community is very welcoming and inclusive. You have everything you’d want on your doorstop in contrast to city life.”
Mr Davidson trained and latterly became a partner in Alex Morison & Co in Edinburgh before moving to Moray. He joined Lossiemouth and Elgin firm Cooper Laing in 1992, which merged with Wink & Mackenzie in 1998.
He admitted the pace of the profession is much faster now than it was 20 years ago.
"There’s no doubt this is because of digital technology which has helped with case management and administration tasks which helps us to improve our service to clients.
"At the same time, social media has become increasingly important in how we engage with existing and potential clients and market our services and properties. There is also a greater need for specialist advice from experts in any given area of law.”
The legal profession is a family affair for the Davidsons. Ian married Carole, also a lawyer, in 1993. She was previously a partner in another Elgin firm and latterly a consultant at Wink & Mackenzie. The couple have one son, Will, who trained in Edinburgh and has just joined Harper Macleod’s residential property, housebuilder and estate agency team in Elgin as a newly-qualified solicitor.
As a consultant, Mr Davidson will the first point of contact for many of his clients, while also devoting time to his hobbies, charitable activities and sport.
He has been a member of Elgin Rotary Club for 23 years, serving as president in 2010-11 and he aims to give more of his time to the local business community, sports organisations and charities close to his heart. He is also hoping to improve on his golf handicap as a member of Elgin Golf Club.
Mr Davidson is confident that the housing team in Elgin led by Karen Logan (estate agency) and Nicola Stephen (residential property) will go from strength to strength.
Harper Macleod has the largest team of lawyers across the north of Scotland, with 22 team members based in Elgin, and a further 45 colleagues across the Highlands and Islands.
He added: “I’m very fortunate to be surrounded by a very strong team, many of whom come from Moray so they really understand the area. Their local knowledge and expertise, combined with the resources of a Scottish law firm, means the Moray team provides exactly what clients need, when they need it and where they need it.”
The most rewarding part of his career, said Mr Davidson, has been the relationships he has built up with clients, many of whom have become friends.
“It really has been a tremendous privilege to be trusted by so many clients over the years. Getting clients from A to B, sometimes when they are experiencing life-changing events, has been very rewarding and I’ve really appreciated how friendly, understanding and patient my clients have been over the years.”
Chris Kerr, Harper Macleod’s lead partner for the Highlands, Islands and Moray, paid tribute to Mr Davidson.
“Ian’s standing in Elgin and Moray speaks for itself. He has been a respected member of the local business community for more than 30 years and, in that time, has helped thousands of clients.
“As a firm, we will continue to invest in Moray by developing new skills and areas of expertise to meet the growth and demand of the local economy in areas such as food and drink, manufacturing and the marine economy."
