Pinsent Masons appoints Scots-born Cleland

PINSENT Masons has appointed a Scottish-born lawyer to be its new managing partner.

John Cleland has been elected following a vote by the firm’s partners and will take up the position from May next year.

He was chosen ahead of Richard Masters, the Glasgow-based head of client operations who used to be managing partner at McGrigors, and Adrian Barlow, head of property.

Current managing partner David Ryan had indicated he would not stand again after 16 years in the role.

Mr Cleland was educated at Belmont Academy in Ayr before going on to study at Cambridge University and the University of London.

He joined Pinsent Masons as a partner in 1997 and is currently head of its financial institutions business covering banking, restructuring and regulation.

Mr Cleland, who is based in Leeds, said: “It is a tremendous honour to be entrusted with the managing partner role by my peers. Pinsent Masons is a firm which has made significant strides during some very challenging times, balancing investment in international expansion with r obu s t f i n a nc i a l performance.

“The firm is now entering a crucial period in which profitable growth will be the key to our continued success.”

Senior partner Richard Foley said: “We were very fortunate to have three such strong contenders for the managing partner role and all three deserve great credit for the way in which the election has been conducted. “I’m sure John will make a cracking (managing partner) and I look forward to working with him as we seek to capitalise on the many opportunities t hat lie ahead of our business.”