Pinsent Masons hires financial services litigation partner Stuart Murdoch

Multinational law firm Pinsent Masons has appointed financial services litigation partner Stuart Murdoch to join its team in Edinburgh, strengthening the firm’s disputes capability for financial institutions, funds and insurers in the UK and internationally.

Stuart joins from DLA Piper, where he was co-lead of its international financial services disputes and international funds ESG workstreams. He is a regulatory, ESG and disputes specialist with a particular focus on the financial services sector, advising clients globally on complex, cross-border matters involving more than 40 jurisdictions.

Stuart’s appointment will strengthen the firm’s market‑leading financial services and disputes teams across the UK, supporting clients across banking, asset management, funds, pensions, insurance, fintech and private equity. His practice spans the full spectrum of regulatory and litigation work, from conduct, compliance and ESG advice through to enforcement action, remediation and group litigation. He previously worked in‑house at a global bank, giving him first‑hand insight into the commercial and regulatory pressures facing financial institutions.

Stuart will be joined by Patrick Fulton, who is appointed Legal Director in the firm’s financial services litigation team. Patrick also joins from DLA Piper and brings deep experience advising financial institutions and asset managers on complex regulatory investigations, disputes and enforcement matters. 

The hires follow the firm’s recent appointment of Jessica Wicker in January, as Pinsent Masons continues to invest in building depth and scale in its financial services disputes offering to meet growing client demand.

Commenting on the hire, Joanne Gillies, Partner and Co-Head of Litigation, Regulatory & Tax at Pinsent Masons, said: “Stuart’s arrival is a strategic addition to our financial services litigation practice. He brings a rare blend of regulatory, ESG and disputes experience, together with valuable in‑house insight, which will be crucial as clients navigate increasingly complex litigation and enforcement risk. He perfectly complements our existing team and adds to the scale and ambition of our offering.”

On joining Pinsent Masons, Stuart said: “Pinsent Masons has a strong reputation for advising financial services clients on their most complex and significant disputes. The firm’s focus on combining regulatory insight with disputes capability, particularly in areas such as ESG and group litigation, was a key draw for me. I am excited to join the team and to work with clients across the UK and globally on their most challenging matters.”