Conflict gifts Eversheds construction team from pre-merger McGrigors

The firm has secured the nine-strong team of partners, senior associates, solicitors and staff, led by McGrigors’ Manchester office head David Moss.

McGrigors admitted that a conflict arising from its merger with Pinsents was a key factor in the departures.

Moss will be joined at Eversheds by McGrigors partner Paul Giles, senior associates Gregory Buckley and Jennifer Tucker, solicitor Emily Walling, paralegal Gemma Williams, trainee solicitor Jordan Cliffe and a secretary.

Moss and Giles joined McGrigors from Squire Sanders legacy firm Hammonds in 2010 (10 May 2010).

The team will be joined at Eversheds by Addleshaw Goddard partner Nigel Proctor. The team will be based in Eversheds’ Manchester office.

A spokesperson for McGrigors said: “As a result of a conflict arising from the recently announced merger between McGrigors and Pinsent Masons, David Moss, Paul Giles and their team will be leaving McGrigors to join Eversheds.

“They have made a significant contribution to McGrigors since their arrival in August 2010 and we wish them well in their future careers.”

The McGrigors construction and energy team have represented a number of clients that Eversheds also represents, notably United Utilities and Balfour Beatty.

Moss said: “I’m confident that our team will be a good fit within the construction practice at Eversheds. Under [head of construction] Simon [Oats’] leadership, the practice has a reputation for a pragmatic approach to complex disputes in the construction sector. It’s this commitment to delivering quality services that I think my team will thrive in and our clients will benefit from.”

Oats said: “The appointment of these top flight lawyers reinforces our capabilities in those key areas but also helps to meet the growing demand for specialism in construction and engineering that we’re currently experiencing.”

The tie-up between McGrigors and Pinsents goes live on 1 May and will make the firm - to be known as Pinsent Masons - the 12th largest practice in the UK with turnover of £282m and more than 2,500 staff including 1,500 lawyers across offices in the UK, Asia and the Middle East.