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Bank of Scotland Buildings, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0EB

Our History

Tait & Peterson have been a well-established firm of Solicitors in Shetland for over 50 years.

It was in the 1930s that James M S Tait (originally of Clousta, Shetland) returned to Shetland from Edinburgh, having passed the Law Society of Scotland exams while serving an apprenticeship with an Edinburgh firm. He took up employment with Thomas Johnston, who took ill shortly thereafter.

Mr Tait found himself running the practice, which he bought over following Mr Johnston's death and built up steadily under the firm name 'Thomas Johnston & Tait' and latterly as 'James M S Tait'.

George S Peterson also passed the Law Society exams after studying at Edinburgh University, while serving his apprenticeship with Shepherd & Wedderburn. On returning to Shetland he was employed by Mr Tait, became a partner in 1966/67, and the firm became known as Tait & Peterson, the name still used to this day.

Gradual expansion of the firm resulted in taking over the factoring of most of the crofting estates in Shetland, which the firm continues to represent.

The advent of North Sea oil in the 1970's saw the firm expand and extend their offices at the Bank of Scotland Buildings incorporating part of the then Bank house to accommodate the staff.

Eric S Peterson joined the firm in 1984 being appointed as partner, and he and his father ran the firm together until George Peterson retired.

Martin Taylor joined Tait & Peterson in 1996 having moved to Shetland from London. He qualified as a solicitor in England in 1979, working in London and becoming a partner in a Westminster firm. He proceeded to qualifying as a solicitor in Scotland and became a partner in Tait & Peterson in 2002.

In 2002 Tait & Peterson incorporated the firm of Morrison & Gardiner.