Thorntons has appointed two new construction law partners in Aberdeen, expanding its legal service provision locally and strengthening its commercial real estate team nationally.
Jennifer Young and Sarah Stuart join from Ledingham Chalmers, where Jennifer has been both chair and managing partner and Sarah has been a partner for almost 20 years.
Jennifer is a highly experienced practitioner, having been accredited as a specialist in Construction Law by the Law Society of Scotland for more than two decades. She is convenor of its Construction Law Accreditation Panel, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) and is a past chair of the CBI Scotland Council.
As well as non-contentious work including contract reviews and negotiation, Jennifer has deep knowledge and experience of construction dispute management and resolution and regularly advises on high-value contractual claims.
Sarah specialises in providing commercial contract support to the energy sector supply chain. She advises construction and engineering businesses on all aspects of commercial contracts, including supply and framework agreements, development agreements, collateral warranties and performance guarantees. With a background in litigation, she also advises clients in high-value commercial disputes.
She is dual qualified in English and Scots Law and is on the committee of the Northern Chapter of the Scottish branch of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). She is ranked in the prestigious legal directory, Chambers and Partners, for construction.
Jennifer and Sarah’s arrivals mark the next chapter in Thorntons’ growth journey following its strategic merger with Patience and Buchan in September 2025, which delivered the firm’s first office in Aberdeen. Thorntons also completed a merger with Macnabs last year, growing its presence in Central Scotland.
Ranked as a Top 100 UK firm by The Lawyer, Thorntons is now one of Scotland’s largest full-service law firms, offering a depth and breadth of expertise and geographic reach unmatched in the market.
Lesley Larg, Managing Partner, Thorntons, said: “Jennifer Young and Sarah Stuart are highly respected specialists in construction and engineering law, both with more than 20 years of experience of working with clients on complex and often very technical contractual matters including disputes.
“They have terrific knowledge of the local marketplace and share our deep commitment to exceptional client care. Each plays a key role in Aberdeen’s world-renowned energy industry as trusted advisers to businesses in the supply chain.
“Importantly, Jennifer and Sarah will also join our growing commercial real estate team, which is now one of the largest of its kind in Scotland, advising on all aspects of commercial property from development, construction and leasing to buying and selling.
“Aberdeen is a key location for us as we continue to grow and we will be further expanding our team in the coming year to establish a full service offering in the city.”
Headquartered in Dundee, Thorntons now has 14 offices across Scotland, from Glasgow and Edinburgh to Inverness, Perth and Aberdeen. Following its recent mergers, the firm now has more than 660 people across Scotland, including 79 partners, offering a comprehensive range of services for businesses, individuals and families that spans employment, corporate, real estate, immigration, agricultural law, private client, family, and dispute resolution.