At Ledingham Chalmers, we pride ourselves on building lasting relationships and offering tailored legal support that evolves alongside the needs of our clients. As we continue to expand our services across Scotland and strengthen our expertise, we are thrilled to announce a significant addition to our senior team.
Kim Johnston joins as Legal Director in our Commercial Real Estate team - a key milestone in our strategy to enhance the service we provide to our growing client base.
Now settled in, we sat down with Kim to learn more about her story so far and what attracted her to working at Ledingham Chalmers.
Meet Kim Johnston
Kim graduated from Aberdeen University (class of 2000) with a degree in Law, from here, she began her legal journey with a traineeship at a local law firm before diving straight into the world of commercial real estate.
Before joining Ledingham Chalmers, Kim spent a significant portion of her career developing her expertise in supporting housebuilders, leasing and commercial development - working across a range of projects. After taking a few years away to focus on her young family, Kim returned to the industry in 2020.
For Kim, the most rewarding part of her career isn't a single moment, but the impact of her work. "In real estate, we get to see something tangible from the work we do," she says. "You see the housing developments being built, people moving into their homes and clients expanding into new commercial premises. It’s incredibly rewarding to know we helped them get there."
Why Ledingham Chalmers?
What attracted Kim to Ledingham Chalmers was our vision and the current trajectory of growth. However, her connection to the firm isn't entirely new; she brings with her a longstanding respect for the team based on first-hand experience.
She explains: "It’s an exciting time to be joining Ledingham Chalmers. The firm is actively strengthening its teams across Scotland and growing its client base. I was attracted by the opportunity to help both new and existing clients achieve their goals during this expansion."
Having worked alongside Ledingham Chalmers on various projects in her previous role, she shared that she “always had lovely experiences with the team”. This, combined with our reputation within the industry, made the decision to join an easy one for Kim.
Leadership and life
Kim brings a grounded and practical leadership style to the firm. Her motivation stems from a genuine desire to see projects through to completion and to see her clients succeed.
Kim is known for her approachable nature and her ability to connect with everyone involved in a project. Whether she’s collaborating with a corporate developer or discussing a land deal with a farmer, she focuses on communicating clearly with everyone. Steering clear of unnecessary legal jargon, she makes sure every client feels comfortable and fully understands the process.
As a parent of two young children, Kim brings a healthy dose of perspective to her work and appreciates the small everyday wins. So when we asked what her proudest recent achievement was, she joked, "being able to get everyone out of the house in the morning and where they need to be on time!".
Kim is also particularly excited about the people side of her new role. Speaking about joining the team, she shared, “We have quite a number of junior members in the team, I’m excited to be working with them and helping them to progress their careers”.
We are incredibly proud to have Kim on board. Her blend of industry knowledge, mentorship and genuine, down-to-earth communication style will be invaluable as we continue to grow.
Welcome to the team, Kim!