Burness Paull joins forces with SFE to sell Scotland globally

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Burness Paull has joined forces with Scottish Financial Enterprise to launch a new guide for financial services firms considering locating in Scotland.

The guide aims to build momentum from Scotland’s Global Investment Summit, co-hosted by SFE and the Lord Mayor of London earlier this month, which brought global investors to Edinburgh to showcase the best of Scotland’s investment opportunities. 

The guide, which sets out both the attractiveness and the legal practicalities of doing business in Scotland, aims to make it easier for financial and professional services businesses to set up in Scotland. 

The sector, which contributes £17.7 billion to the economy and employs over 150,000 people in Scotland, is vital to the economic prosperity of Scotland. One of Scotland’s unique strengths is the depth, breadth, and maturity of its financial and related professional services landscape. All areas of financial services are represented at scale across Scotland’s major cities, including banking, asset management, insurance and long-term savings, private equity, wealth management and venture capital.

Commenting on the guide, Caroline Stevenson, head of FS Regulatory at Burness Paull said: “Scotland has long been recognised as a global centre for financial services, blending centuries of expertise with an entrepreneurial, forward-looking outlook – supported by a robust and innovative regulatory environment.

“As a Scotland-based firm with a global outlook, we are perfectly placed to advise those looking to take advantage of what Scotland has to offer. Our clients include both established institutions and innovative disruptors that are shaping the future of the sector, so we see daily how Scotland provides the perfect ecosystem to establish and grow financial services businesses.”

Jamie Gray, partner in the firm’s FS Regulatory team said: “Scotland has always been modest in celebrating its achievements, but it is time for those in the sector to show our pride in - and confidently promote – what has been achieved in financial services and where we can go next. This guide marks an important step in showing what Scotland brings to the international stage.  Not only does it highlight the nation’s rich heritage and innovative spirit but it shows how these qualities can drive the next phase of growth in the financial sector, adding valuable growth to the UK economy. Burness Paull is proud to be part of this story and we look forward to collaborating with clients already here and new firms eager to discover everything Scotland has to offer.”
 
Sandy Begbie CBE, CEO of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said: “Scotland has a lot to offer investors but we are often reluctant to shout about it on the world stage. Scotland’s Global Investment Summit aimed to rectify that to global investors, and this guide aims to help firms looking at their location strategies to navigate the practicalities of setting up in Scotland.
 
“The strength of Scotland’s financial and professional services sector has attracted a range of international firms – large and small – to Scotland in recent years and with our proximity to London, impressive talent pool and deep heritage, Scotland provides a fantastic opportunity for businesses looking to expand. A key part of our sector growth strategy is ensuring Scotland is seen as an attractive place to do business and this guide will help firms considering Scotland.”

The guide will be used over the coming months across the globe by SFE and Burness Paull, as well as through the networks provided by the City of London Corporation, Department for Business & Trade and Scottish Development International.

We hope you find the guide useful. Our market-leading financial services team has supported numerous international firms establish and grow their Scottish operations. To discuss anything in the guide or find out how we can help your organisation please get in touch.

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