Promotions round at Ledingham Chalmers as two retire

Ledingham Chalmers partner Craig Pike has been promoted to head of its Private Client team, as the Aberdeen headquartered practice announces a round of promotions and retrials with effect from 1 April 2023.

Mr Pike, who joined the firm as a trainee solicitor in 2005 and became a partner in 2015, is also chairman of Aberdeen Performing Arts, which oversees His Majesty’s Theatre, the Music Hall, and The Lemon Tree, and is clerk and assessor of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen, a trustee of Northcote Lodge Care Home in Aberdeen, and on the local steering group for Alzheimer Scotland.

He becomes team head on the retiral of partner Douglas Watson, who joined Ledingham Chalmers in 2011 and continues with the firm on a consultancy basis.

Partner Alasdair MacLure from the Aberdeen Commercial Property team, who has been with Ledingham Chalmers for more than 30 years, is also retiring but will continue as a consultant.

Seven other lawyers have been promoted, five in the Private Client team: Jenna Hendry, James Florance and Claire Woodward step up to associate, and Hannah Black and Joanna Milne to senior solicitor, all in Aberdeen; and in Commercial Property, Mhari Michie in Aberdeen and Graeme Myles in Inverness both become senior associates.

Four second-year trainees will stay with the firm when they qualify in October: Holly Allan-Hardisty (Family), Gavin Matheson (Corporate), Hannah Patience (Private Client), and Jessica Sunassee-Mackey (Litigation).

Describing Mr Pike as "an incredible asset to the firm", managing partner Jennifer Young commented: "He is an exceptionally supportive, knowledgeable and respected colleague and — under his leadership — the private client discipline will continue to play an integral part in our nationwide growth plans."

She added: "Both Doug and Alasdair have made a huge contribution to our success. I’d like to thank them for their energy, counsel, and considerable support over the years.

"Growth depends on having the right people in the right roles, and we have thoroughly impressive colleagues working with us during what is an exciting period for our firm, but also at a time when we’re operating against the backdrop of an incredibly competitive recruitment and client retention market.

"All of these promotions and appointments recognise the talent of each of these remarkable lawyers and their contribution to the firm, and its ambitious growth plans. Congratulations to them all."