Patton & Co has agreed a merger with Peter Graham & Associates, expanding its operations beyond the Border into Northumberland, the Highlands and north-east Scotland.
The combined business will operate under the name Patton & Company and will bring together more than 20 employees.
The deal expands the firm’s geographical coverage into rural and property markets in both Scotland and Northern England.
Patrick Patton, managing partner of Patton & Co, said: “This is a natural progression for us. We have built a strong presence in the Borders and Northumberland and this merger allows us to expand that reach while remaining true to the way we work.
“For our clients, it’s about access to a wider range of expertise while continuing to work with the same trusted people. This continuity is important, especially for businesses that value long-term advisory relationships.”
The merger will expand the range of services available to Patton & Company clients, including areas such as rural advice, rental and natural capital and renewable energy. In the north of Scotland, it will also add estate agency services.
The deal brings together members of the same family, with Patrick Patton and Celia Patton joining forces with Celia’s father, Peter Graham, in the joint business.
Under the new structure, Peter Graham, Patrick Patton and Celia Patton will become partners alongside existing Peter Graham & Associates partners Teresa Leith and Ed Dunbar and new partners Tamara Innes and Fiona MacLeod.
The combined firm will continue to operate with a focus on advisory services across its expanded geographic region
Peter Graham, owner of Peter Graham Associates, with offices in Elgin and the Black Isle, said: “I have been approached by big companies over the years, but they don’t want me or my team – they want my clients, and I was never prepared to accept something like that.
“I wanted to find a way to transform the business in a way that protects those relationships. My clients are better off being embedded in a corporate model where the focus is on the fee rather than the person.
“It’s about bringing together two businesses with similar ethos. We’re not taking anything away – we’re adding services and strengthening what we already do.
“At its core, this business has always been built on trust, relationships and giving honest advice, and it was important to me to continue that.”