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When co-founders Maureen McKee Matheson and Victoria Lawson launched Matheson Lawson Solicitors in March 2025, it wasn’t from a corporate ivory tower.
It was built on years of real-life experience, hard work and – in Maureen’s case – a decade of pulling pints in one of Glasgow’s best-known pubs, The Bon Accord.
Maureen spent ten years working in the licensed trade, learning what makes hospitality tick: long hours, razor-thin margins, loyal regulars and the paramount importance of service.
In 2005, she was honoured as Bar Personality of the Year – proof that people skills, resilience and a good sense of humour go a long way in this industry.
Victoria’s route was slightly more airborne. Before law, she worked as an air steward – an environment where being calm under pressure, excellent attention to detail and exceptional customer care aren’t optional extras; they’re essentials.
Between the two of them, service excellence isn’t a marketing slogan. It’s how they were trained. And it’s exactly what Matheson Lawson is built upon.
Service that feels familiar
Publicans and hospitality operators don’t want jargon. They want clarity, speed and someone who answers the phone when it rings. Sound familiar?
The licensed trade runs on relationships. So does Matheson Lawson.
This month, among other things, Matheson Lawson’s Commercial Department, spearheaded by Director and Head of Commercial Property, Donna Carson, were excited to advise in the purchase of a new public house in Glasgow and conclude lease work for an exciting fine dining restaurant in Glasgow.
Into March, the commercial team continues to advise clients on commercial property acquisitions and lease negotiations across the city and Scotland.
Glasgow’s hospitality scene is bold, creative and constantly evolving and Matheson Lawson are delighted to be right in the middle of it.
More than just the deal
Buying or selling a pub or hotel or taking on a restaurant lease is only part of the story. Matheson Lawson regularly advise licensed trade clients on:
- Commercial property purchases and disposals
- Negotiating and renewing leases
- Succession planning for family-run pubs
- Wills, Powers of Attorney and estate planning for business owners
- Structuring ownership for tax and asset protection purposes
Because let’s face it, if you’ve spent 30 years building a successful business in the trade, you don’t want the future of it left to chance.
Matheson Lawson understands that many licensed premises are family legacies. The establishment isn’t just bricks and mortar; it’s where weddings are toasted, football or rugby victories are debated and generations of customers gather. Planning properly protects that legacy.
Why hospitality clients choose us
Perhaps it’s because they “get it”.
Matheson Lawson knows what it’s like to work until 2am and be back in for deliveries at 9am. They know that deals don’t happen neatly between 9 and 5 and they are acutely aware that a straight answer beats a ten-page letter every time!
Matheson Lawson mirrors the very best of the licensed trade: warm welcomes, professional standards and no-nonsense service.
A growing partnership
Maureen and Matheson Lawson’s connection with the hospitality sector runs deep, from meeting her husband and many lifelong friends while working under the late, great Paul McDonagh (and the current, great Thomas McDonagh) to developing a love of the incredible tunes of the Blues Buddhas on a Saturday night, the trade has shaped more than just professional life.
They’re proud to work alongside so many brilliant operators across Glasgow and beyond and they’re equally excited to continue their partnership with Scottish Licensed Trade News, with some very exciting news about continued collaboration coming soon… watch this space.
So if you are:
- Buying or selling a pub, hotel or restaurant
- Taking on a new lease or renewing an existing lease
- Planning for retirement or succession
- Or simply want a solicitor who understands the trade
Pull up a chair. Matheson Lawson are ready when you are.
Handled personally, professionally , passionately
