5 Best Corporate Lawyers in Edinburgh for Deals You Can Trust
I once signed a commercial lease without having a professional review the exit clauses. Breaking that contract later cost me a small fortune. Skipping legal advice is often the most expensive mistake a founder can make.
If you’re building a business in Edinburgh, a corporate lawyer who understands Scottish law can protect you before you sign anything. That’s why I compared local firms on fees, expertise and service terms.
Here are the best corporate law firms in Edinburgh, and what each practice handles best.
How much does a corporate lawyer cost in Edinburgh?
A corporate lawyer in Edinburgh costs about £165 to £495 per hour before 20% value-added tax (VAT). The rate depends on the solicitor’s experience and how complex your matter is.
Some work, such as company formation, may come with a fixed fee instead.
| Experience level | Indicative hourly rate (excluding VAT) |
| Partners and directors | £350 to £495 |
| Associates and senior associates | £245 to £315 |
| Trainees and paralegals | £165 to £195 |
1. Morton Fraser MacRoberts
Website: mfmac.com
Address: 9 Haymarket Sq
Contact: 0131 247 1000
Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM | Saturday and Sunday, closed
A business sale that crosses the border gets complicated if your legal team only understands Scottish rules. Morton Fraser MacRoberts solves that with lawyers qualified in both Scotland and England.
Buyers and sellers get unified advice across both jurisdictions, so you don’t need two law firms to close one deal.
The team manages the entire acquisition process, from data rooms to final transaction documents. They also support venture capital rounds and management buyouts.
In-house specialists step in for tax or data protection issues as they arise.
A founder I know used them for a recent funding round and appreciated how smoothly the different departments collaborated.
The trade-off is that they can’t always offer a fixed fee for unpredictable transactions.
Also, when they bill hourly, they calculate time in six-minute units, so monitor your legal budget closely.
Customer Reviews
Highly recommend the Corporate team
For many years, Bonar Mercer and the team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts have been our trusted advisors on multiple projects for DLR Group. Bonar’s extensive knowledge and commercial awareness have consistently impressed us. His professional expertise is complemented by a personable approach, making him an exceptional counsel both professionally and personally. We highly recommend the Corporate team at Morton Fraser MacRoberts!
Daniel Rosie | Google Review
Doing business in Scotland
With my first time doing business in Scotland I needed to engage with a solicitor that I could trust and get along with. Luckily for me the referral I got to David @ Morton Fraser was exactly that. By no means were his fees over and above and the level of detail and after care given was second to none. Looking forward to working with the David and the firm in the future.
Andreas Riha | Google Review
2. Boyd Legal
Website: boydsolicitors.com
Address: 21-22 Queensferry St
Contact: 0131 226 7464
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Saturday and Sunday, closed
Buying a company often means taking over its commercial leases, which forces you to juggle corporate and property negotiations at once.
Boyd Legal gives you one dedicated point of contact for both sides of the transaction. That suits small and medium-sized enterprises that want a streamlined process.
Their commercial team handles everything from drafting supplier contracts to finalising management buyouts and intellectual property transfers.
If you’re just starting out, they also advise on legal structures and premises purchases.
I called their office to ask about commercial agreements, and their staff explained the process clearly without heavy legal jargon.
However, their startup support leans more towards business structures, commercial premises, and contracts than venture capital fundraising, so ask about their experience with investment rounds before you sign up.
Customer Reviews
Sale of my business
I used Boyd Legal for the sale of my business. I was most impressed with the service I received and the professionalism and knowledge of Kelly Matthews, my solicitor. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Boyd Legal to any other business needing commercial legal work carried out.
Gill Main | Google Review
Purchase my first business
Kelly helped me purchase my first business. With next to no experience, I had no idea what to expect, but she was very helpful and professional throughout the sale. I learnt a lot and would definitely use/ recommend Boyd legal in the future.
Hannah Mollon | Google Review
3. Tidman Legal
Website: tidmanlegal.com
Address: 5 S Charlotte St
Contact: 0131 478 4724
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM | Saturday and Sunday, closed
Entrepreneurs usually run on tight budgets, which makes unpredictable hourly legal bills a scary prospect.
Tidman Legal removes that worry with fixed-fee startup packages that combine commercial foundations with intellectual property protection.
Their packages include intellectual property (IP) audits, trademark registrations and confidentiality agreements, which keep your ideas protected while you scale.
That suits high-growth tech companies, since they can secure their brand before approaching seed investors.
They also draft solid shareholder agreements, which become vital if founders disagree down the line.
The catch is that year-round legal advice comes only with their highest Legal Max package. The lower tiers include quarterly check-ups, so you’d need to arrange any support outside those check-ups separately.
Customer Reviews
Support my new tech business
I contacted Tidman Legal after coming across their website whilst looking for guidance on intellectual property filing in Scotland to support my new tech business. I spoke with Oliver and he directed me to a governmental grant support programme for a full IP Audit which I subsequently decided to apply for. Tidman Legal carried out the IP Audit to a very high standard and this has given me a clear understanding of my next steps for the business progression. I would recommend Oliver and Tidman Legal to any newly established company looking at ways to protect their ideas…
Mark Naples | Google Review
First class in both his expertise, advice and communication throughout the process
As we started into the first round of lock down we discovered that someone had started up there own letting agency using our company name and the good will that we have built over the last 10 years.
With having no experience or expertise in this field we really were unsure as to how we should progress in the correct manner.
Tidman Legal were recommended to us and Oliver has been first class in both his expertise, advice and communication throughout the process…
moo maintenance | Google Review
4. Anderson Strathern
Website: andersonstrathern.co.uk
Address: Capital Sq, 58 Morrison St
Contact: 0131 270 7700
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Saturday and Sunday, closed
Expanding a business overseas means navigating unfamiliar foreign regulations that can derail a lucrative deal. Anderson Strathern tackles cross-border acquisitions through the Meritas international legal network.
They pull in trusted foreign partners whenever a transaction leaves Scottish jurisdiction. That gives buyers the confidence to pursue international deals.
They also assist exiting owners with succession planning and employee ownership trust formations.
If a deal runs into trouble, their corporate solicitors work closely with in-house specialists, so you can be connected with acivil litigation lawyer if a commercial dispute suddenly threatens your transaction.
However, they place a strong emphasis on transactions within the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) market, which might give larger institutional buyers pause.
If you’re planning a massive multinational takeover, verify that their recent deal scale matches your requirements.
Customer Reviews
Small Company requiring Legal advice
For any small Company requiring Legal advice, we cannot recommend Anderson Strathern highly enough. Over the years we have received outstanding advice and support in relation to general, immigration and shareholding advice and, more recently specific in employment law. Robin Turnbull is outstanding in this speciality, bringing his wealth of experience to every step of the process. In doing so he provided a balanced, rational approach while keeping us informed and reassured through to conclusion. Hopefully not a next time but, thanks Robin!
Gayle MONTEITH | Google Review
Great partner to our business
We have worked with Gillian for many years now and always found her to be a great partner to our business. A real asset to Anderson Strathern. Thanks for all you do Gillian! It’s much appreciated.
Scott Fraser | Google Review
5. MBM Commercial
Website: mbmcommercial.co.uk
Address: Ste 2, Orchard Brae House, 30 Queensferry Rd
Contact: 0131 226 8200
Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM | Saturday and Sunday, closed
Securing American investment capital often requires a deep understanding of United States (US) corporate law alongside your Scottish obligations. MBM Commercial bridges that gap with US-qualified lawyers on their team in Britain.
They advise directly on American contracts and employment rules. That makes them a major asset for startups planning to expand across the Atlantic.
They manage everything from early seed funding and corporate restructuring to post-merger integration and regulatory compliance.
They also handle most of their transactional work through agreed fixed fees. That lets you scope out negotiation stages without watching the clock.
Just be aware that without an agreed fixed fee, retainer or other arrangement, they use standard hourly billing.
With their Scottish partners charging up to £495 per hour before VAT, unquoted tasks will quickly drain your budget.