Member Article

Pinsent Masons named Legal Advisor of the Year

A major Yorkshire project has helped international law firm Pinsent Masons to achieve the title of ‘Legal Advisor of the Year’ for social infrastructure at the Infrastructure Journal (IJ) Awards, staged at the Natural History Museum, London.

Pinsent Masons won the prestigious award in recognition of its role advising on the majority of UK social infrastructure projects (including the West Yorkshire Police PFI Project – led by Leeds-based senior associate, John Bruce) and its ground-breaking work on the first housing project of its type in Bahrain.

Michael Watson, head of projects at Pinsent Masons, said: “We are thrilled to have been acknowledged with this important award which recognises the increased strength in depth and international reach the firm has developed in the infrastructure sector over the past year.

“In times of economic austerity we continue to be at the forefront of new thinking on ways to structure and invest in social infrastructure for our clients nationally and internationally. We have an outstanding team and this award is credit to them.”

According to the judging panel, “2012 was an exciting year for social infrastructure advisor of the year Pinsent Masons. In the UK the firm advised on the majority of social infrastructure projects to reach financial close; and, in a hugely significant move for the market, it completed a merger with like-minded Scottish infrastructure advisor McGrigors. Pinsent Masons’ infrastructure activities were not confined to Britain as the firm also closed the first housing project in Bahrain, an enterprise being carefully watched by other MENA countries as a possible template for similar investments in the region.”

Pinsent Masons infrastructure practice has a strong presence globally and the firm has also, for example, closed its first housing project in Bahrain, been mandated on two major waste PPP projects in Greece, continued to develop its social infrastructure practice in Kuwait and advised on a project in Rwanda.

The firm is also exploring other markets via targeted initiatives for Canada and Africa.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mark Lane .