Kirk Murdoch will become chairman of Pinsent Masons' operations in Scotland and Northern Ireland after the law firm combines with Scotland's McGrigors on May 1.

Currently senior partner of McGrigors, Mr Murdoch will be a non-executive on the new firm's nine-strong board. While the combination is described as a merger, Mr Murdoch will be one of three people from McGrigors who will have seats on the board that will run the business. It will operate under the Pinsent Masons name and its international headquarters will be in the City of London.

Pinsent Masons' Fraser McMillan will head up the firm's Glasgow office. Ewan Alexander, a partner in McGrigors' Real Estate practice, will lead the firm's Edinburgh office. The Aberdeen office will be led by McGrigors' corporate partner Roger Connon.