The moves reflect each individual’s valuable contribution to our firm and our clients.
As of 1 April, 2021, three senior solicitors were promoted to associates: Sarah McCaffery, from the litigation team in Inverness as well as Mhari Michie and Pamela Sargent, both working in commercial property in Aberdeen.
And in our residential property team Claire Ogston has been promoted to senior associate and Claire Woodward to senior solicitor.
Meanwhile David Geddie, who joined Ledingham Chalmers in 2019 when Simpson & Marwick Aberdeen’s estate agency team transferred to the firm, has retired as a consultant. He continues to work closely with Ledingham Chalmers Estate Agency (LCEA) as a property advisor.
Ongoing training
Continuous professional development is also an important part of our growth plans.
Highlights from the last 12 months including partners Rod Hutchison and Sarah Stuart obtaining first class results in the University of Aberdeen’s online short course — Decommissioning of Offshore Installations: Regulatory Aspects.
Part of the MSc Decommissioning course, this focuses on the international and domestic legal regulatory framework which government and industry have to consider when making strategic decisions about offshore installations as they reach the end of their productive life.
Client wellbeing advisors Alison Sansbury and Sophia Keay achieved the Society of Law Accountants in Scotland (SOLAS) qualification.
For clients, this means offering confidence in their proficiency in all aspects of law accounting: a key skill when it comes to handling sensitive matters linked to powers of attorney, guardianships or day-to-day practical assistance for clients in, or receiving, care.
Private client solicitors Jenna Hendry and Natalie Coll both secured, with distinction, modules in the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) accreditation.
For Jenna, this was the completion of her training and means full STEP accreditation. Natalie aims to complete her last module in the coming months, which would bring our total number of STEP-accredited practitioners to seven.
Well-deserved
The last 12 months have been extraordinary for us all. But what has reassuringly remained the same has been our colleagues’ focus on doing great work for our clients and helping put in place plans for growth, with the SME sector an area of particular focus.
The promotions are well-deserved recognition of the talent of each of these lawyers, and the impressive dedication of those who completed training — sitting exams and finishing coursework often alongside working, looking after family and supporting remote learning — is no mean feat. Well done, all.
