Pinsent Masons appoints Katharine Hardie as Chair, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Katharine takes over the role of Chair of Scotland and Northern 29 years to the day since she joined the firm as a trainee lawyer in 1990. She will be responsible for leading the firm’s four offices across Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Belfast comprising approximately 600 partners, lawyers and operational staff.

Katharine Hardie specialises in commercial and residential property development and recently acted for Barclays Bank in its acquisition of a new office campus at Buchanan Wharf in Glasgow, comprising in excess of 450,000 sq ft of new office buildings, where it will create 2500 new jobs for the city.

Katharine is the first female to be appointed to the role, and succeeds Richard Masters, who has decided to step down from the role in order to pursue business interests outside of private practice.

Katharine Hardie says: “While I am sorry to see my long term colleague Richard go, I am looking forward to leading Pinsent Masons in Scotland and Northern Ireland and consolidating our market leading position as the pre-eminent legal and professional services firm. The profession is changing and being good lawyers is no longer enough; we need to focus hard on bringing a wide range of disciplines to help address our clients requirements. Equally, we need to continue to foster an inclusive culture which prides itself on driving change, and giving the very best talent a global platform from which to operate.”

John Cleland, Managing Partner of Pinsent Masons, says: "As someone who is well-respected by our clients and our people alike, and passionate about nurturing the firm's values, I am sure Katharine will do an excellent job in continuing our transition toward becoming a purpose-led professional services business with law at is core. I would like to wish Richard all the best in his new career, and Katharine likewise in her new role with the firm."