A strategic merger has been agreed that broadens service offering and opens access to new markets across Scotland for a Borders-based estate agency.
The move sees Paton & Co join forces with Peter Graham and Associates, creating a combined business that will operate across the Borders, Northumberland, the Highlands and Northeast Scotland.
The merger reflects growing demand from clients for integrated advisory services across wider geographies, particularly within rural, property and land-based sectors.
The combined firm will bring together a team of more than 20 professionals under the Paton & Co brand.
Patrick Paton, Managing Partner of Paton & 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 staying true to the way we work.
“For our clients, this is about access to a broader range of expertise while continuing to deal with the same trusted people. That continuity is critical, particularly for businesses that value long-term advisory relationships.”
This will see services including rural advisory, lettings and specialist expertise in areas such as natural capital and renewable energy immediately available to Paton & Co’s existing client base. In the north of Scotland, the merger will introduce enhanced estate agency services, building on existing local knowledge and relationships.
The merger also brings together three members of the same family, with Patrick Paton and his wife Celia joining forces with her father, Peter Graham, as partners in the business.
Under the new structure, Peter, Patrick and Celia will each become Partners in the combined business, alongside existing PGA Partners Teresa Leith and Ed Dunbar and new Partners Tamara Inness and Fiona MacLeod.
Reflecting the structure on how both firms were built, the combination of the two businesses will see a shared emphasis on trust and delivering advice rooted in deep client understanding and needs.
The involvement of family across both sides of the merger has been a key factor in aligning the two businesses, reinforcing a shared approach centred on continuity, reputation and long-term advisory support.
Peter Graham, Owner of Peter Graham Associates, with offices in Elgin and the Black Isle, said: “Over the years there have been approaches from larger firms, but they don’t want me or my team – they want my clients, and that was never something I was prepared to accept.
“I wanted to find a way to transition the business that protected those relationships. My clients deserve better than being absorbed into a corporate model where the focus is on fees rather than the individual.
“This is about bringing together two businesses with the same ethos. We are not taking anything away – we are adding services and strengthening what we already do.
“At its heart, this business has always been built on trust, relationships and giving honest advice, and it was critical to me that continues.”
The merger brings together two businesses with complementary strengths, allowing each to add new capabilities without duplicating existing services.
For clients in the Borders and Northumberland, this means access to additional expertise developed over decades in the Highlands, while those in the north of Scotland will benefit from the introduction of a dedicated estate agency offering built on established relationships.
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In the short term, the focus will be on integrating the two teams and maintaining continuity for clients, with recruitment expected to support future growth across both regions.
Patrick added: “We’re always looking for the right people rather than just filling roles, and this creates a real opportunity for individuals who want to be part of a team that genuinely cares about its clients, takes pride in the advice it gives, and is committed to building expertise over the long term.”
Paton & Co brings together specialist estate agency, lettings and rural advisory expertise under one trusted brand, combining local knowledge with over 100 years of combined experience.
