Scottish
independent law firm Ledingham Chalmers has announce senior leadership changes reflecting sustainable growth.
For
the third year running, the Aberdeen-headquartered, full-service firm announced
its highest turnover since becoming an LLP in 2006.
Turnover
for 2023/24 was £14.3million, compared with £13.4million in 2022/23.
Group
turnover, including subsidiary Ledingham Chalmers Financial, was £14.9million,
compared with £14.2million in 2022/23. Pre-tax profit was slightly down on the
year before - £3.2million compared with £3.5million.
The
firm says the difference in profit is due to continued investment in its
workforce, combined with factors affecting all businesses such as higher
operating overheads. It says it also reflects early investment in moving to a
new office in Ord House, Cradlehall Business Park, Inverness.
In June, the firm announced it had
invested a six-figure sum in the new premises in the north of Scotland,
following team growth of almost 40% since the start of 2023. The move brought
together colleagues from its Church Street and Beechwood Business Park sites in
the city.
And
in the next phase, all estate agency and conveyancing colleagues in Aberdeen
will move back to the Johnstone House premises when the Alford Place lease
expires in December.
New
leadership structure
From November 1, Jennifer Young stepped down as managing partner, continuing as a
partner in the Aberdeen office.
Partner
and head of the private client team Craig Pike was elected as chair - a role
he’ll hold for the next three years - and said: “Over the last two financial
years, we’ve seen record turnover since becoming an LLP along with our highest
headcount.
“This
growth, combined with a consistently competitive marketplace means the managing
partner role has evolved considerably. Jennifer was keen to step back into a
more client-facing role as a valued partner focusing on her construction law
specialism, and an elected management board will now be responsible for the
firm’s day-to-day management and driving forward its strategy.”
This
board comprises Inverness-based partners JP Campbell and Victoria Leslie,
together with Aberdeen-based partner Peter Murray. All three will serve for an
initial 18 months alongside the firm’s chief operating officer, Chris
Mackenzie.
Mr
Pike will work closely with the management board and lead all partner meetings.
Headcount
and external recognition
Since
January 2024, 26 people have joined the firm, which has offices in Aberdeen,
Edinburgh, Inverness and Stirling.
The
firm’s headcount on October 31 was 194 including 22 partners, and recruitment
is also underway for a further four posts in Aberdeen and Inverness: three
solicitors and one administrative role.
The
firm is consistently ranked in legal directories and in the 2025 Legal 500 and Chambers UK 2025 18
people and six disciplines were recognised: corporate and commercial,
employment, personal injury - defender, agriculture and rural affairs,
construction, and commercial property.
Legal
500 also ranked some firm teams for their excellence in client satisfaction - a
new score assessing client experience and service delivery.
Mr
Pike added: “This change in leadership structure, as well as our continued
investment in our talented colleagues - and the environments in which they work - represents our commitment to growth.
“I
do also want to say something specifically about Jennifer. For 12 years, she’s
served as chairman and, more recently, managing partner. It’s important to
acknowledge the integral role she’s played in our success over that time,
including helping steer the firm through a global pandemic as well as a period
of growth with record turnover as an LLP.”
Mrs
Young, a Law Society of Scotland-accredited construction law specialist, said:
“Being a partner in a firm with the reputation Ledingham Chalmers has is an
honour, and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished so far.
“As
I transition back to client-facing work, I’ll be doing whatever I can too to
support the management board - and the firm as a whole - in terms of our
sustainable growth aspirations.”