Leading construction law firms sign merger deal

Two of the leading law firms handling construction, Pinsent Masons and McGrigors, have confirmed they are merging.

The two firms, which will now operate as a single company under the Pinsent Masons brand name, said the move was ratified following a partner vote. 

The combined firm, which will have a combined turnover of around £280m, will employ more than 2,500 people in total including over 1,500 lawyers, 500 of whom will be based in Pinsent Masons’ international headquarters in the City of London.

The firm operates across the UK and has four offices in Asia Pacific, two in the Gulf and plans to open two more offices in France and Germany this year.

Chris Mullen, senior partner of Pinsent Masons, said: “We’ve been very encouraged by the strong support from among our clients and the resoundingly positive reception to the merger proposal by our partners.

“Each firm has great respect for the other’s reputation and culture and recognises that we have a common heritage of quality coupled with ambitious plans to grow our capabilities even further.

“We believe this is the best way to deliver an even better offering to our UK and international clients who demand both a broad range of high quality services and excellent value. We’re really looking forward to joining up and getting on with our plans together.”

Managing partner of McGrigors, Richard Masters, added: “This deal is great news for clients of both firms and we are delighted to be merging with Pinsent Masons. 

“The merger is the result of a strong cultural and operational fit, with clients from both firms being major UK and international players. We believe that the new firm will provide a solid platform for growth, allowing us to become a clear market-leader in strategically key sectors.”