International law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed corporate dealmaker Barry McCaig to head up its 280-strong Glasgow office.
McCaig has been with the firm for 14 years since qualifying as a lawyer and is one of 11 Pinsent Masons partners and directors in Scotland.
In the last year he has been integral in a number of big ticket acquisitions and fund-raisings.
He recently advised Blue Water Energy in the launch of exploration company Siccar Point Energy which has a GBP300 million war chest for North Sea oil and gas development, provided equity advice to TDR and Sun Capital in their GBP400 million acquisition of social housing developer Keepmoat, and advised the UK Green Investment Bank on their investment in a GBP74 million green energy facility at the Macallan distillery in Speyside.
McCaig has a dual remit of reinforcing Pinsent Masons’ position as a major player in Glasgow and the Central Belt and promoting the benefits of an international firm with representation in Europe, the Gulf and Asia Pacific.
McCaig says: “Glasgow is a hugely important market for us and my main objective is to ensure we are properly represented and in the mix, not just for corporate deals emanating in the city, but for a full range of legal work across major business sectors. We are focused on serving the energy, infrastructure, financial services, manufacturing and technology sectors globally, and that starts in our own back yard here in Glasgow.
“We are an international firm which places as much emphasis on our roots as our global outlook and the reality is we are stronger in Scotland than we have ever been. This is borne out by recent research by Legal 500, which found that we have more leading practices in Scotland than any other firm – and indeed more in the UK as a whole than anyone else.
“Our business is performing well and we are pleased with high levels of activity, but I am convinced there are plenty more opportunities in Glasgow and the surrounding area which we have not yet tapped in to. The market needs a bit of a shake-up as providing the same old service in the same old way is selling Scottish clients short.”
Pinsent Masons chairman in Scotland, Kirk Murdoch, says: “Barry is highly respected in the local market place and by his peers and as an enthusiastic champion of our Glasgow business he will put his own stamp on how we do things.
“As head of office he will provide leadership and motivation for our people and be an excellent ambassador for Pinsent Masons in Glasgow and beyond. As a popular partner with a very strong network of business and personal contacts, Barry is ideally placed to match up Scottish entrepreneurs who have international aspirations with access to our worldwide business connections.”
McCaig succeeds Fraser McMillan who was appointed group head of Pinsent Masons global construction practice.
