Daresbury advisory firm expands into Scotland

From left: Tom Faichnie, Melanie Clark (Hall Morrice), Nicole Burstow, James Dow (DSW)

Independent advisory firm Dow Schofield Watts has expanded into Scotland for the first time through a partnership with Aberdeen’s leading mid-market dealmakers Hall Morrice Corporate Finance.

The move will give Dow Schofield Watts a fifth UK base in addition to its offices in the North West, Leeds and London, and expertise in the oil and gas sector.

The Aberdeen team will now operate under the Dow Schofield Watts brand, while retaining their close relationship with the Hall Morrice accountancy firm.

Hall Morrice Corporate Finance was founded in 2017 by Tom Faichnie and Melanie Clark.

Tom, who played a key role in building Deloitte’s deal advisory team in Manchester, also developed Barclays’ global investment strategy for the oil and gas sector and more recently was a partner at RSM.

Melanie, who was previously at KPMG and RSM, was recently named as one of the ICAS Top 100 Chartered Accountants.

Dow Schofield Watts is one of the UK’s most active deals advisers.

With more than 70 professionals – mostly from top-tier firms – it positions itself as a ‘natural alternative to the big four’, and has its own international corporate finance network covering 14 countries, a dedicated tech team and an angel network.

Founding partner James Dow said: “Hall Morrice Corporate Finance is highly respected within the Scottish deals market and fits well with our own ethos of top-tier professionals providing a partner-led service.

“The partnership will extend the Dow Schofield Watts operation across the border into Scotland, with its strong tech and financial services sectors, and allow our advisers across the UK to draw upon the team’s expertise in the oil industry.”

Tom Faichnie said: “Having firmly established ourselves as an independent force within the Aberdeen market, this partnership with Dow Schofield Watts will allow us to take our business to the next level.

“It will boost our global reach in line with the increasingly international nature of the oil services industry, and enable us to leverage the expertise within the group to support other fast-growing entrepreneurial businesses in the region.”

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