Commercial law firm kicks off New Year with two senior partner hires

Aberdeen corporate lawyer, Gordon Hobkirk, has returned to Maclay Murray & Spens LLP (MMS), in a move that coincides with the appointment of Andrew Orr as partner in its growing capital projects practice. Mr Orr is ranked as a “leading individual” by the Legal 500. The hires follow the end of a busy 2016 for the commercial law firm, which advised on some of the highest profile corporate deals of the year. Kenneth Shand, chief executive of MMS, said: “This is a great start to what looks set to be a busy year for MMS. Gordon and Andrew, two highly regarded, well connected and experienced professionals, will not only enable us to look after existing clients, but will broaden the reach of our Corporate and Capital Projects practices.” Mr Hobkirk was a leading light in the team from Iain Smith & Co, which joined MMS in 2007. He has advised on numerous corporate deals in the North East over the past 20 years, especially in the oil and gas, renewables and food and drink sectors. He moved from MMS in 2012 but is looking forward to rejoining the firm and is expected to grow its network of corporate clients in the North East of Scotland, and to use his expertise to support other specialist areas in MMS’ Aberdeen office. Mr Orr has acted on some of Scotland’s most high-profile projects, including Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Edinburgh’s New Royal Hospital for Sick Children. He has extensive experience across project finance, infrastructure, energy and PPP/NPD, advising public sector organisations, funders, sponsors and contractors. Mr Hobkirk said: “The North East of Scotland continues to be a vibrant economy and a wonderful place to practice law – I look forward to working with my old colleagues at MMS and with the many new faces who will have joined the firm since I was last there.” The corporate team at MMS has been particularly active in recent months, advising on three major deals in quick succession: the flotation on AIM of accountancy software business FreeAgent Holdings plc; the £261 million recommended takeover of British Polythene Industries plc (BPI) by RPC Group plc; and the £9 million recommended takeover of Superglass Holdings plc by Inflection Management Company Limited. Meanwhile, the firm’s financial services team advised Dalmore Capital on its participation in a consortium that acquired 61 per cent of National Grid’s UK gas distribution business. The enterprise value of the gas distribution business was £13.8 billion, making this one of the largest private infrastructure deals in UK history.