He is one of only two lawyers from a Scottish-headquartered firm to feature in The Lawyer magazine’s Hot 100 2020 – a list compiled after months of research into candidates’ client work and contribution to their firms and the profession.

The Lawyer Hot 100 is described as recognising “the lawyers of the moment”, stating that “all those on the current list are shaping the legal profession right now”.

The magazine said: “When Chris Kerr set up the firm’s first office outside the Scottish Central Belt, he seemed to be bucking a trend. Other Scottish firms were turning their eyes towards the south, but Kerr reckoned they were missing a trick.

“For more than a decade, Kerr has quietly built up the Highlands and Islands practice to nearly a fifth of Harper Macleod’s corporate work. His Highlands, Islands and Moray team now represents 16 per cent of the firm’s workforce.”

Mr Kerr, who has been with Harper Macleod since joining as a trainee in 1999, has spearheaded Harper Macleod’s growth in the north of Scotland since being part of the team which opened the firm’s Inverness office in 2004. Since then he has led the integration of offices in Thurso, Lerwick and Elgin – giving Harper Macleod the largest legal team in the Highlands, Islands and Moray.

He said: “As part of a team it’s slightly embarrassing to be singled out, but having dedicated so long to building a legal practice in a part of the UK that literally couldn’t be any further removed from the London bubble, it’s great to see that effort recognised.”