Law chief stands down after over 40 years with same firm

The Herald Scotland

11-06-2025

Thorntons said Colin Graham, its former chair, is stepping down as a partner after more than four decades.
Mr Graham, 64, joined Thornton, Dickie and Brand as it then was in 1984 and was appointed partner four years later at the age of 27 to Thornton Oliver.
He served eight years as chair, starting in 2016, and has seen Thorntons 'grow to become one of the country's largest legal practices, with over 600 colleagues and partners'.
To support the firm in the run-up to his retirement as a partner, he took up a role as senior partner at Thorntons, a key leadership position driving forward a number of projects for the firm, while retaining his ambassadorial role representing Thorntons and its people across Scotland and beyond. He will now act as a consultant to the business.
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Mr Graham, who is described by the Dundee-headquartered company as one of the best-known business figures in Tayside, specialised in conveyancing law and is recognised as one of the country's leading experts in the field, presenting for the Law Society of Scotland and other organisations on complex cases, and helping inform changes in the law.
He said: 'I am enormously grateful for the many messages of support I have received from partners, colleagues, clients and friends. I have always sought to ensure that Thorntons focused on doing the right thing for our people, for our clients and for our communities.
'I am proud that, as we have undergone significant growth, particularly over the past five years, we have preserved the direct, personal client approach for which the firm has been known for decades and looked after our colleagues. That culture is what sets us apart.'
Lesley Larg, the firm's managing partner, said: 'Colin is rightly regarded as being 'Mr Thorntons' and has played a vital role in leading the firm with a rare combination of business insight, integrity and compassion for our people.
'He is enormously well-respected for his tremendous leadership and for his insistence on adherence to the highest professional and personal standards at all times. It is no coincidence that his eight years as chair saw the longest and most sustained period of growth in the firm's history.
'The impact he has made on our business will never be repeated, and I know I speak for many, many members of the Thorntons team when I say that he has been a uniquely positive influence on my own career. We are all looking forward to his ongoing, valuable contribution in his important new role.'
As well as his decades-long leadership position within Thorntons, Mr Graham has played a leading role in many other organisations over the years, including as chair of RSPCC Dundee, treasurer of the Ninewells Cancer Research Appeal, captain of Dundee High School FP Rugby Club and as chair of NHS Tayside Primary Care Disciplinary Panel.
Thorntons can trace its roots back to 1857.