McClure Naismith wins Ledingham housing team

Acquisition set to give firm major position in social housing market

News, 6 February 2006

Ledingham Chalmers' specialist housing team is to become part of McClure Naismith's seven-partner commercial property unit.

The two partners - Philip Sim and Derek Hogg - three other lawyers and two support staff from Ledingham's Edinburgh office will not be joining McGrigors as part of the split-off of non-core business announced by Ledingham last month. Instead, the transfer to McClures on 3 April will give the Glasgow and Edinburgh firm what it believes to be a dominant position in the social housing market.

Derek Hogg is ranked as the top individual lawyer in the social housing sector for his role in major local authority housing transfers by the Chambers guide to the legal profession. He said that he expected housing transfer projects - such as the second stage transfer for Glasgow Housing Association - to come with him. Philip Sim has extensive experience acting for health boards and in the development and letting of medical centres.

According to Mr Hogg, his team had felt that McGrigors tended to work in a more hierarchical way, which had not appealed to them.

Ledingham Chalmers indicated at the time of their announcement with McGrigors that two Edinburgh partners would not be part of the planned transfer.

McClure Naismith now has 29 partners and more than 100 lawyers. The firm will be relocating both its London and Edinburgh offices this year in order to accommodate growth in the business.

Commenting on the appointments, senior partner Dr Kenneth Chrystie said: “We are delighted that Philip, Derek and their colleagues have decided to join McClure Naismith. They have an outstanding reputation in their field and will significantly enhance our commercial property practice. We are particularly excited about the opportunity to work in social housing.”