Dan McKay

About Us

When Dan McKay, a young and rather ambitious solicitor received his precious practising certificate from the Law Society in 1932, he was very eager to set up his own firm. There was just one small problem, however – he couldn’t afford his own premises.

Undeterred, McKay revealed an early sign of the powers of persuasion. He convinced another firm to let him use its Hanover Street offices outside of its normal working hours.

Working part-time in the evenings after the other lawyers had gone home, McKay teamed up with Bill Norwell, a former procurator fiscal. The fledgling business soon began to thrive and they were able to afford to run their own full-time office. Then came the potentially disastrous disruption of the Second World War.

Rather than waiting for a call-up, McKay volunteered, leaving his wife and mother to hold the fort while he served in the War Claims Commission, and finally reached the rank of major in military intelligence.

After the war, he resumed his legal career and opened offices in Rutland Square. The firm developed into a multi-discipline general practice over the years (ceasing, however, to provide criminal defence services some years ago).

Now, 75 years since McKay founded his firm, and nearly 30 years after his sudden death, it is still based at Rutland Square – although it has flitted from number seven to number five and is still going strong and continues to focus on individual and businesses services.

“All our staff aim to provide a professional and friendly service, focussed on the needs of our clients, in today's increasingly complex world”

John Mitchell, Senior Partner