LAW firm Pinsent Masons has promoted the head of its Glasgow office to run its global construction practice.
Fraser McMillan will take charge of a practice which has a turnover of around £55 million and employs 250 of Pinsent Mason's 1,500 lawyers. Major clients include Balfour Beatty, Carillion, Kier Construction and Hochtief.
Mr McMillan confirmed he will continue to base himself in Glasgow but conceded he may be spending additional time in the firm's London office and some of its locations further afield.
Outside the UK the firm has European sites in Paris, Munich and Istanbul. As well as that it has premises in China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Mr McMillan said: "The construction team is probably the most dispersed in the firm with a lot of presence in our international offices. That will be a very big part of our business going forward so I'm looking forward to working with the guys and girls out there.
"I think a lot of day-to-day stuff we can do [remotely]. The balance is the personal relations stuff and that still benefits from face-to-face meetings."
Mr McMillan, a Strathclyde University graduate, is taking over from Richard Foley who is becoming senior partner at the firm.
A new head for the Glasgow office is also being sought with an announcement on that expected soon.
During his 16 years with the firm Mr McMillan has worked on various arbitration and litigation work relating to construction and engineering projects.
His portfolio includes advising on disputes around the construction of Wembley Stadium and the Edinburgh Trams project.
David Ryan, managing partner of Pinsent Masons, said: "Our construction practice is a core component of our offering in the infrastructure and energy sectors and I am delighted that Fraser has taken on the role.
"He combines first-class technical skills and sector knowledge with significant management experience.
"Further, Fraser is very-much internationally minded and understands the significance we attach both to global growth and maintaining our dominant position in the UK."
Mr McMillan believes the firm can grow its presence in markets at home and overseas.
He said: "There are tremendous investments that require to be made around the world in infrastructure the world over. We are well placed to help clients with that. In the UK the challenge will be to maintain the quality and reputation we have got but respond to the increasing demands from clients to increase efficiencies to help them with cost controls in their business."
While his new duties will lead to more demands on his time Mr McMillan is keen to ensure he still makes room for client work.
He believes his appointment also shows the firm, which merged with McGrigors more than two years ago, is not afraid to give international responsibilities to its Scottish staff.
He said; "I've always said and always felt very passionately that we have such great talent in Scotland that we could provide them with opportunities to work on a far bigger canvas.
"I'm delighted that not just me but many other lawyers in the business get the opportunity to do that whether it is in individual client matters or being involved in the management of the firm. Scotland is a very strong contributor to the firm overall."
Mr McMillan is also a trustee of the Pinsent Masons foundation charitable trust which has made donations of £260,000 since it was set up in 2009.
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