COMMERCIAL property advisory specialist Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) has acquired a majority stake in Scottish-headquartered consultancy Ryden.
Ryden has over 120 professionals across Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and parts of northern England.
The acquisition of a majority stake in the business follows a move earlier this week when LSH formed a similar strategic partnership with south east England-based consultancy Stiles Harold Williams (SHW).
These partnerships are described as ‘key milestones’ in LSH’s growth journey.
As part of Connells Group — owned by Skipton Building Society and the UK’s largest residential estate agency — LSH is expanding through a mix of organic growth and acquisitions. This latest deal brings together the regional expertise of all three firms, creating new career opportunities for the 1,600 professionals working across the combined businesses.
Ryden and SHW will retain their brands while gaining access to LSH’s nationwide network of 30 offices.
LSH chief executive Ezra Nahome said, “Ryden’s reputation in Scotland is second-to-none, which is why this partnership makes so much sense as LSH seeks to grow to become the UK’s leading commercial advisory firm. Both businesses pride ourselves on our client focus, commercial insight, and commitment to delivering results through strong local relationships.”
Alan Gilkison, managing partner of Ryden, added, “The businesses are an excellent fit in terms of geographical coverage and areas of expertise. The investment will allow us to develop our core strengths and expand into emerging sectors.
“There is a common desire to deliver growth, achieve key expansion targets and extend client services, while retaining Ryden’s strong reputation in Scotland. It also represents an excellent opportunity for our English business to grow more rapidly as part of a larger, established brand in the north of England and to work collaboratively across the regions.”
