Pinsent Masons named Legal Advisor of the Year for Social Infrastructure

International law firm Pinsent Masons has been named as 'Legal Advisor of the Year' for social infrastructure by the Infrastructure Journal (IJ) Awards last night at an awards ceremony held at the Natural History Museum, London. 

Renowned within the industry, the IJ Awards have been recognising innovation and creativity in financing infrastructure since 2000.  Pinsent Masons won the prestigious award in recognition of its role advising on the majority of UK social infrastructure projects 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. Pinsent Masons is also exploring other markets via targeted initiatives for Canada and Africa.

Pinsent Masons has been shortlisted for this award in the past but this is the first time the firm has won an Infrastructure Journal accolade post-merger.