Scottish engineering business Weir Group has appointed Burness Paull and CMS Cameron McKenna to its first ever European panel following a competitive tender process while Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) and Baker & McKenzie have been gifted with advisory roles on its global legal roster.
In a process overseen by deputy general counsel Christopher Morgan, both panels took effect on 1 January. It is the first time Weir has implemented an external panel.
Indicative of ongoing economic turbulence in Scotland’s legal market, advisers which had previously acted for Weir but not attain a place include Maclay Murray & Spens and Pinsent Masons.
The appointment comes as the Glasgow-headquartered pumpmaker continues to search for its next legal chief as incumbent general counsel and company secretary, Keith Ruddock, announced his retirement in September last year.
The future appointee will join the business as it faces ongoing turbulence due to falling oil and gas activity. In September 2015 Weir was demoted from Britain’s benchmark index, after shares halved in value this year.
Burness Paull chair Philip Rodney said: ‘The Weir Group is one of the world’s leading engineering businesses. As a firm based in Scotland and transacting business internationally, we are delighted to have been appointed to their European legal panel.’
British Land also recently concluded an adviser review, announcing its first ever panel includes Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Addleshaw Goddard, HSF, Jones Day, King & Wood Mallesons, Mayer Brown and Simmons & Simmons. In Scotland, Morton Fraser picked up four places on Edinburgh City Council’s £3.1m panel, being appointed alongside larger firms such as Pinsent Masons and CMS Cameron McKenna.
sarah.downey@legalease.co.uk
