Mr Merchant succeeds Robert Graham-Campbell, who retires after eight years in the role. Having studied law at the University of Edinburgh and subsequently qualified as a Chartered Accountant, Mr Merchant brings extensive experience from his career in banking and private markets investment in London and overseas.

He was appointed following an extensive search process led by chair Frank Blin, who said: “I am very happy that we have secured Gavin as our new CEO. He brings a combination of relevant financial, business and strategic management experience which will help drive the firm forward and deliver our growth plans in the coming years, building on the strong platform built under Robert’s leadership.”

Mr Graham-Campbell joined the firm in 2017 after a career in investment banking followed by law firm leadership roles spanning almost 25 years. Under his leadership, he oversaw a period of strategy-led growth, including establishing the firm’s presence in Glasgow in addition to its offices in Edinburgh and Perth. During this period, the partnership grew by almost one third to 28 whilst turnover increased by more than 70 per cent.

Mr Merchant said: “I am delighted to be joining Gillespie Macandrew at such a pivotal time. The firm has an excellent reputation, talented colleagues and a strong platform for future success. I look forward to working closely with our people and clients in the years ahead and to further developing the firm’s capabilities.”