Kirk Murdoch, chairman of Pinsent Masons in Scotland and Northern Ireland, has passed away after a battle with illness.
In a statement released this morning (13 March) Pinsents senior partner Richard Foley said: ‘For very many years, Kirk has been a huge influence in our firm. He was a natural leader and his ambition for the firm – and indeed for the wider Scottish legal profession – marked him out as one of the most distinguished lawyers of his generation.
‘He had an incredibly positive influence in shaping the careers of so many and we will miss him dreadfully. He was unfailingly courteous and thoughtful and was blessed with a great sense of humour. So many of us turned to him for wise counsel. We have lost a great friend and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.’
Murdoch became a partner at Scottish legacy firm McGrigor Donald in 1982. In a legal career spanning over 35 years, Murdoch was a passionate advocate for the Scots legal market while serving as McGrigors’ managing and senior partner, and was largely responsible for securing its status as one of the four premier Scottish firms. Notably he is also heralded as one of the main architects of the groundbreaking merger between McGrigors and Pinsent Masons in 2012, and afterwards ensuring that the Scottish practice of Pinsents played a vital role in the success of the combined firm, which saw it named Law Firm of the Year at the 2016 Legal Business Awards.
Beyond law, Murdoch was a proud Ayshireman and committed sportsman, described as ‘above all a devoted family man, loving partner, and a valued friend to so many – or a true “man o’ pairts” as they say in Ayrshire.’
madeleine.farman@legalease.co.uk