The deal, part of our nationwide growth plans, creates a business with around a £14million annual turnover and a headcount of 196 including 29 partners.
All 19 ASG personnel will transfer to Ledingham Chalmers.
From our perspective, this deal is an important milestone in our strategy to double its revenue to £25million 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 our Aberdeen-based estate agency colleagues 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.
Our plans
Strategic acquisitions are part of our ambitious growth plans to double our revenue to £25million 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.
We work with public sector organisations and individuals, multinational and national companies, as well as high potential SMEs. These clients operate across industries that drive the national economy including energy, oil and gas, renewables, commercial property, construction, agriculture, leisure, and tourism, as well as insurance.
We're also the Scottish member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, through which our clients can easily access strategic, straightforward support in nearly 200 jurisdictions.
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 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 our Kintail House site in the Highland capital. The commercial property team will be spread across both offices.
When I asked Findlay about his aspirations for the deal, he said: “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.”
