Ledingham Chalmers LLP announces Inverness-based legal practice Anderson Shaw & Gilbert (ASG) will join its full-service law firm today (1 November, 2022).
The deal creates a business with around a £14million annual turnover and a headcount of 196 including 29 partners. All 19 ASG staff will join Ledingham Chalmers.
ASG’s commercial property, corporate, rural and private client teams will trade under the Ledingham Chalmers brand with ASG’s Joe Duncan joining as commercial property partner.
Meanwhile, its estate agency practice will retain its name, with Findlay Boyd as conveyancing partner along with Iain McDonald as director.
This complements the work of Aberdeen-headquartered Ledingham Chalmers Estate Agency which, following the transfer of Simpson & Marwick’s north east estate agency practice in 2019, became one of the city’s largest in terms of number and value of properties sold.
ASG was established in the 1880s and provides legal advice to private individuals and business clients across the north of Scotland. Full-service firm Ledingham Chalmers, which marked its 30-year anniversary in 2021, has offices in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Inverness, and Stirling and works with public sector organisations and individuals as well as business clients operating across industries that drive the national economy including energy, oil and gas, renewables, commercial property, construction, agriculture, leisure and tourism.
ASG’s Church Street premises will now be home to all estate agency, conveyancing and private client personnel, including those with considerable expertise working with contentious trusts and executries as well as succession planning for high net worth individuals.
Meanwhile, the corporate, rural, litigation, and employment law teams will work out of Ledingham Chalmers’ current Kintail House site and the commercial property team will be spread across both offices.
Ledingham Chalmers managing partner, Jennifer Young, said: “Strategic acquisitions are part of our ambitious growth plans to double our revenue to £25million by 2025.
“Over the years, our focus in Inverness has evolved beyond what remains a strong public sector client base and specialised business law practice to the full-service model that has served us so well in Aberdeen with recent high profile hires including partners JP Campbell and Gary Webster.
“With that in mind, this deal with ASG, a well-regarded practice we’ve worked with numerous times over the years, is an important evolution of our firm in the Highlands.
“It bolsters our full service offering with well-respected commercial, corporate and private client expertise as part of our commitment to actively pursue acquisition and merger opportunities across Scotland that add measurable value to clients.”
Mr Boyd said: “This is a mutually beneficial deal and gives ASG the opportunity to access a larger team of solicitors providing a broader range of specialist advice in what is an impressive service for clients ranging from first-time buyers looking for a home, to multinationals considering global mergers and acquisitions.
“All clients can expect a seamless transition and we’ve already been in touch with them to let them know what they can expect over the coming days and weeks, and that includes continuing to deal with their usual contacts.”