Gilson Gray acquires fellow SJP firm

The financial management arm of Scottish law firm Gilson Gray has acquired boutique wealth manager and fellow St James’s Place network firm Wilson Financial.

The deal expands Gilson Gray’s team in Dundee, following its recent acquisition of RS Robertson.

Wilson Financial was founded in 2018 as part of the SJP partner network.

Wilson Financial founder Gavin Wilson will join Gilson Gray’s team of over a dozen Financial Planners in the firm’s new Dundee city-centre offices.

Mr Wilson said joining Gilson Gray will give his clients access to a wider team and broader range of services.

Gilson Gray expects to make further Scottish acquisitions this year.

Steve Herkes, managing director of GGFM, said: “Gavin is a great addition to GGFM and his experience and expertise will be invaluable in helping us to continue to provide the highest quality of service to our clients from our growing Dundee office. He will complement our existing team and play a central role in helping to develop our presence in the wider region, particularly Fife and Stirling.

“Gilson Gray arrived in Dundee just two years ago and has grown significantly – our acquisition of RS Robertson has added a strong GGFM presence to our legal expertise in the city. Adding Wilson Financial to our business is the latest deal in a series of strategic acquisitions and we hope to conclude more across Scotland as we move further into 2023.”

The deal is the third for Gilson Gray so far this year, with Edinburgh-based Chartered Financial Planner Sarah Hughes Wealth Management acquired in March. 

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

The firm also acquired North Berwick-based Wallace Financial Planning in a seven-figure deal in September 2022.  

So far the acquisitions have taken Gilson Gray’s assets under management to over £650m with more than 30 financial advisers serving clients across the UK.

Gilson Gray Financial Management offers specialist financial advice to private and corporate clients around the UK. It is a senior partner practice of wealth manager St James’s Place Wealth Management.

Gilson Gray was established in 2014 and provides advice on law, property and finance. The firm has more than 160 staff in four offices in North Berwick, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow.