Wick law firm celebrates tenth birthday with charity donation
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A Wick law firm that began in the spare room of a house in Wick's Nicolson Street is celebrating its tenth year of successful trading this weekend back where it all started – at home.
On Sunday November 22, it will be officially 10 years since BBM Solicitors was set up with its aim to provide "market leading quality insolvency, litigation and corporate legal services". BBM had intended to fundraise for Caithness charities during this 10th anniversary year, but has been unable to do so in the way intended because of the pandemic.
However, it marked its upcoming birthday by handing over a donation of £500 to Home Start Caithness to assist with its Winter Warmers appeal.
BBM was founded by brothers Eric and Alasdair Baijal, and supported from the beginning by their friend and colleague Jennifer Simpson, née Hamill. Alasdair left the practice in 2016 to undertake full time Christian missionary work in South Africa, but Eric and Jennifer still lead the practice.
Eric said: “We are delighted to have come this far and are very grateful to all who have supported us on the journey. There have been ups and downs like any journey but looking back we have seen remarkable success over the decade, which is testimony to the grace of God, rather than brilliance on our part."
In November 2010 the firm began operating from a spare room in Eric’s in-laws house in Nicolson Street, Wick, Jennifer’s home in Halkirk and a small serviced office in Edinburgh. Today the firm is based at offices in Wick Business Park and at 27 George Street, Edinburgh. However, in some senses 2020 is a year of returning to the beginning because the solicitors are back working from home due to the pandemic.
The firm is still boutique but has grown over the years. Office manager Gail Robertson is the longest serving member of staff having been with the practice since December 2010, and was quickly joined by others. The firm now employs nine solicitors, two trainee solicitors and six administrative support staff split between the two offices, and having brought and retained quality and graduate jobs in the Caithness area.
BBM is now recommended by the leading legal directories for their litigation and restructuring work, with Eric leading a team instructed from around the country and the world in relation to Scottish litigation and insolvency.
However, the Highlands and Islands, and Caithness and the Northern Isles particularly, are critical to BBM’s identity and success. Responding to market demands, the firm now offers quality legal services to private individuals and for those involved in property transactions.
"An organisation is nothing without its people, and we have some of the very best," said Eric.
"Their loyalty, attitude to service, and ability, is unquestionable. We pay tribute to them and all that have been part of making the journey a success.”
A monumental achievement: Wick company's 200-year story is set in stone
