Edinburgh-headquartered Ledingham Chalmers has acquired Inverness-based Anderson Shaw & Gilbert (ASG).
The deal creates a business with around a £14m annual turnover and a headcount of 196; including 29 partners.
All 19 ASG personnel will transfer to Ledingham Chalmers, which described the transaction as "an important milestone" in its strategy to double 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.
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 Ledingham Chalmers' Aberdeen-based 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. Its Church Street premises will be home to all estate agency, conveyancing and private client personnel, including those with 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' Kintail House site in the Highland capital. The commercial property team will be spread across both offices.
Boyd commented: “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.
“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.”
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