Brunton Miller Solicitors closed suddenly in November
The Law Society has confirmed it retains a large number of files following the sudden closure of a long-standing local firm.
Brunton Miller Solicitors began operating shortly after World War I, following the amalgamation of two firms established in the 1880s.
The business, which had offices in Helensburgh, specialised in a number of different fields, including conveyancing, family and estate law.
One of its leading partners was the kenspeckle figure of Douglas Dalgleish, pictured right, a solicitor who was president of the Scottish Golf Union and chairman of Dumbarton FC.
Mr Dalgleish, who died at the age of 91, was a well-known solicitor whose deep involvement in, and love of sport saw him achieve recognition as President of the Scottish Golf Union as well as chairman and, latterly, Honorary President of Dumbarton Football Club.
His education took him to the University of Glasgow to study law, only for National Service to intervene. He served two years with the Royal Air Force in Cornwall. He resumed his university studies, graduating with an MA and LLB, then serving his apprenticeship with solicitors Baird, Smith, Barclay & Muirhead. Once qualified, he joined the law firm Brunton, Miller, Alexander & Martin, with whom he would continue working for the rest of his life, rising to the position of senior partner.
Dalgleish helped his two sons to form a golf travel business, PerryGolf, in 1984, and he was a director of the company for the rest of his life. He also founded and organised the Helensburgh Boys’ Tournament and sponsored the club’s Annual Festival of Golf and Winter League.
He was instrumental in the club buying the golf course from its landowners in 1978 and he later played a key role in introducing equality of membership for women at the club.
As President of the Dunbartonshire Golf Union, he served on the executive of the Scottish Golf Union, and was elected President of the latter body in 1994. During his year in office he travelled extensively around Scotland and Europe, and also attended the US Masters tournament at Augusta.
If golf was his greatest sporting love, he was also a keen supporter of Dumbarton FC, serving as Chairman from 1996 to 2003 and in later years as Honorary President. He was instrumental in the move from the old Boghead Park to a new ground at the Rock.
Douglas Dalgleish was also an enthusiastic curler, and was actively involved in ensuring that the 1985 Silver Broom World Curling Championships took place in Glasgow. An after-dinner speaker of some repute, he was in demand at Burns Suppers. He spent most of his legal career in offices within a short stretch of St Vincent Street, in Glasgow.
In a statement on November 3, 2025, the Law Society of Scotland confirmed that Brunton Miller had ceased to practise and its head of interventions, Fiona Watson, had been appointed judicial factor by the Court of Session.
A judicial factor can be appointed if it has been found that a firm’s accounting records have not been kept properly. Rarely, it may be suspected that client money is missing.
Following the collapse, clients told journalists that they are owed thousands of pounds, and cases have been left unresolved.
On December 11, the Judicial Factor appointed internationally recognised law firm TLT to assume the licensing files of the former practice.
Stephen McGowan, partner and head of licensing (Scotland) at TLT LLP, said: “The sudden closure of Brunton Miller will have come as a shock to affected licensing clients.
“My focus now that TLT has been appointed is to meet with and look after all the clients as quickly as I can to provide reassurance and certainty that they will be taken care of.
“My team and I are now going through the process of contacting all the affected clients and the various licensing board clerks to ensure all those concerned are supported and represented.”
A spokesman said: “We continue to retain possession of a large number of Brunton Miller files for safekeeping, and to assist former clients of the firm in relation to active matters.”
Top of page picture: The Court of Session in Edinburgh.