Pinsent Masons appoints new Head of Financial Services Regulatory

03 Mar 2015 | 12:25 pm | 1 min. read

International law firm Pinsent Masons today announces the appointment of financial services heavyweight David Heffron to lead its Financial Regulatory practice.

David joins the firm's London office as a partner from Addleshaw Goddard, where he led the firm's financial regulatory practice and was head of its financial services sector until November 2014.

He advises a wide range of regulated businesses including banks, building societies, insurers, brokers and other financial services providers on regulatory and commercial issues. He recently advised the influential Council of Mortgage Lenders in relation to the government’s Help to Buy scheme, and during the course of his 16-year career as a partner has acted for several well-known financial institutions.

David will lead Pinsent Masons' Financial Regulation team and will be tasked with growing the existing team following a period of significant growth. Pinsent Masons currently acts for most of the UK's major retail banks and major General and Life insurance companies. Over the past two years the firm has been appointed to the national panels of Aviva and Clydesdale Bank, while at the end of 2014 it advised Legal & General in relation to its £2.5 billion partial buy-out of the TRW Pensions Scheme, the largest transaction of its type in the UK to date. The firm also recently advised Direct Line on the £39.3m disposal of its life insurance business.

David's appointment follows a steady stream of investment in the firm's financial services offering. In 2013 Pinsent Masons hired Michael Isaacs, also from Addleshaw Goddard, to head-up its banking litigation practice and David Doogan to lead its banking team in Birmingham. The firm also brought in market-leading restructuring specialist Claire Massie in Scotland, and in 2014 appointed former FCA lawyer Michael Ruck.

John Salmon, Head of Financial Services at Pinsent Masons, says:

"We have a growing reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the financial services sector, and are delighted that someone of David's undoubted pedigree has opted to join us. He shares our desire to further-develop our City practice and provide innovative solutions to clients. We are targeting significant opportunities for further work around transactions, regulatory investigations, payment services and product development and distribution, and David will be key to helping us take the next step in our development."

David Ryan, Managing Partner of Pinsent Masons, says:

"David stands out as someone who will enhance our brand in the City and add strength-in-depth to our financial services offering, and we are very excited to have him join us. David is the fourth lateral hire made by the firm since the start of 2015 and we remain committed to making investments which will help us become a truly market-leading firm in the global sectors in which we operate."

David Heffron is ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers as a standout practitioner.

Latest press releases

Show me all press releases

Pinsent Masons hires senior finance partner Nick Tostivin to lead its Finance team in London

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed partner Nick Tostivin to join its rapidly expanding financial services team in London, where he will lead the Finance team.

Pinsent Masons recognised in China Business Law Journal's Deals of the Year 2023

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has been recognised in the Projects Deal of the Year category of the China Business Law Journal’s (CBLJ) Deals of the Year 2023 list for the firm’s work on the landmark NEOM Smart City Project in Saudi Arabia.

Pinsent Masons advises Bestinver Infra, FCR on acquisition of remaining shares in Irish toll road concession & operation companies

Pinsent Masons has advised Bestinver Infra, FCR on the acquisition of the remaining shares in N6 (Concession) Holdings Limited and N6 (Operations) Ltd, with Japanese co-investor Daiwa Energy & Infrastructure Co. Ltd.

People who viewed this press release also viewed

Show me all press releases

Pinsent Masons hires senior finance partner Nick Tostivin to lead its Finance team in London

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed partner Nick Tostivin to join its rapidly expanding financial services team in London, where he will lead the Finance team.

Pinsent Masons advises Lloyds Bank on £62 million fund to invest in sustainable business and regional development

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has advised Lloyds Bank on the launch of a £62 million investment fund to help small businesses across England and Wales access finance to support local jobs and economic activity.

Pinsent Masons hires Charlotte Scholes as new pensions litigation partner in London

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed pensions litigation partner Charlotte Scholes to join the firm’s financial services sector in its London office.

For all media enquiries, including arranging an interview with one of our spokespeople, please contact the press office on

+44 (0)20 7418 8199 or 

Location contacts

We are processing your request. \n Thank you for your patience. An error occurred. This could be due to inactivity on the page - please try again.