MMS boosts oil and gas team

Ms Reid has worked her entire career in the oil and gas industry, the majority in Aberdeen, initially as in-house legal counsel at Shell and Chevron and latterly with Dana.

She brings more than 25 years’ client-side industry experience and market knowledge to MMS, at a time when the sector faces up to low oil prices, changes in the wake of the Wood Review and the creation of the new Oil and Gas Authority.

Kenneth Shand, chief executive of MMS, said: “Jill brings vast legal experience and commercial understanding of the oil and gas sector, both in the UKCS and overseas.

“Her insight is particularly important during what is a challenging time for the industry and will help clients chart a path through the challenges that lie ahead.

“We enjoyed working with Jill as a client during her time at Dana and look forward to welcoming a lawyer of her calibre and experience to our growing oil and gas team.”

Commenting on her appointment, Ms Reid added: “These are challenging times and legal advisers need to be even more aware of clients’ priorities. MMS is building an oil and gas legal team of experienced lawyers, which includes several senior individuals who have worked in-house and who know what it feels like to manage legal risks, alongside the technical, financial and other demands of companies.

“I am very much looking forward to being part of the MMS oil and gas team and joining such a prestigious law firm.”

MMS has taken a series of steps over the last 18 months to grow its oil and gas team and Aberdeen office.

Guy de Speville, a London-based oil & gas partner, joined from Hess Corporation, where he spent 12 years as in-house counsel in the Far East, USA and London.

Partner Bill Fowler is now mainly based in MMS’ Aberdeen office.

He recently spent four months on secondment to Premier Oil’s Falkland Islands team, assisting with preparations for its 2015 drilling project.

Craig Purdie joined the firm’s Aberdeen office from Andrews Kurth, the US boutique oil & gas firm in September 2014, having previously been withAshurst and Centrica.