Pinsent Masons appoints Roger Connon to Vario role

The former head of Pinsent Masons’ Aberdeen office, Roger Connon, has taken up a new role with the firm and will focus on expanding the Vario freelance legal resource to the north east’s oil and gas sector.

The oil price downturn in recent years has led to the widespread restructuring of many energy sector businesses, which impacted on a range of functions including legal services.

Now with the price of Brent Crude levelling out at around $50 to $60 a barrel and increased confidence in the oil and gas sector, Pinsent Masons expect an increase in activity, including project tendering and asset consolidation.

Mr Connon said: “The oil and gas industry has always used a large number of consultants either to supplement their in-house teams or to provide specialist advice to meet the specific requirements of the business at a given time.

“Legal services budgets and headcounts have fallen in recent years but the legal work has not reduced, and with new projects coming back online there will be a greater need for highly experienced and flexible lawyers to fill the skills gap.”