Ledingham Chalmers acquires Anderson Shaw & Gilbert

Ledingham Chalmers has acquired Inverness legal practice Anderson Shaw & Gilbert ("ASG") as of today, 1 November.

The takeover creates a business with around a £14m annual turnover and headcount of 196, including 29 partners.

All 19 ASG personnel will join Ledingham Chalmers.

Jennifer Young, managing partner of the Aberdeen-headquartered firm, says the deal is "an important milestone" in its strategy to double its revenue to £25m by 2025.

ASG’s commercial property, corporate, rural, and private client teams will trade under the Ledingham Chalmers brand, with Joe Duncan joining as commercial property partner. Its estate agency practice will retain its name, with Findlay Boyd as conveyancing partner, along with Iain McDonald as director.

The Church Street premises of ASG, which was established in the 1880s, will house all the estate agency, conveyancing and private client personnel, while the corporate, rural, litigation and employment law teams will work out of Ledingham Chalmers’ current Kintail House site. The commercial property team will be spread across both offices.

Ms Young commented: "Strategic acquisitions are part of our ambitious growth plans to double our revenue to £25m by 2025.

"This deal, bringing ASG’s extremely well-respected commercial, corporate and private client expertise to our firm, is the latest part of our commitment to actively pursue acquisition and merger opportunities across Scotland — including in the central belt — that add measurable value to clients.

"Locally, it’s a milestone in the evolution of our Inverness office, where our offering has grown over the last couple of years 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."

Mr Boyd added: "This is a mutually beneficial deal and gives ASG the opportunity to access a larger team of solicitors providing a broader range of 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."