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Construction law specialist Jennifer Young named chairman of Ledingham Chalmers

SCOTTISH law firm Ledingham Chalmers LLP has confirmed the appointment of accredited construction law specialist and long-standing partner Jennifer Young as its chairman.

Mrs Young, 42, who joined the firm as a solicitor in 1995, and was promoted to partner in 1999, takes up the appointment on January 1, 2012.

David Laing, who has held the chairman's post since Ledingham Chalmers became a limited liability partnership in 2006, will continue his ongoing client-facing work across the business after stepping down from the chair.

Ledingham Chalmers is targeting continued growth across the country having boosted turnover and profits as it marked five years as an LLP earlier in 2011.

The firm and its subsidiary, Golden Square Wealth Management, secured a 3% increase in turnover to £9.9million in 2010/11, supported by the ongoing recovery of the residential and commercial property sectors. Group profits totalled £3.5m, an increase of 2.5% on 2009/10.

"These are exciting and challenging times for Scottish law firms and I am very confident that Jennifer is ready for the task ahead," says Laing.

"She has developed a superb reputation in Scotland as a specialist in construction law and combined this with a keen interest in the leadership of business organisations."

A graduate of Aberdeen University, Mrs Young's career has spanned 18 years. In addition to her work as chairman and partner of Ledingham Chalmers, she is a member of the board of governors at The Robert Gordon University; the Law Society of Scotland's Construction Law Accreditation Panel and is elected to the Council of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce.

"I am honoured to be entrusted with the role of Chairman at such an exciting time in the development of Ledingham Chalmers. Having joined the business with the aim of growing our construction practice, I feel ready to take on this new challenge," she says.

"David has led the firm in different roles in the years since 1996, during which both the market landscape and the firm itself have seen significant changes.

"I am enthusiastic about the challenges ahead and my focus will be on supporting colleagues across the business as we push forward to grow the firm as the economy steadies.

"We have an excellent team of colleagues in our three offices, serving private clients and business clients across all sectors. We are in a great position to build on our very strong brand as a firm with which people really want to do business. With the support of colleagues I am confident we can do that."

Ledingham Chalmers has also confirmed the promotion of employment law solicitor Veli-Matti Raikkonen to associate. Mr Raikkonen, who relocated to Aberdeen from his native Finland more than 13 years ago, is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen and is well known as one of Scotland's elite cyclists.

The firm has a headcount of 150, including 66 qualified lawyers, 25 of whom are partners.

The name Ledingham Chalmers first appeared in 1991 through the merger of Edmonds & Ledingham and C & PH Chalmers. David Laing was named as the firm's first managing partner in 1996 and then as senior partner in 2001, before the creation of the chairman's post when the firm moved to LLP status in 2006.

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