Margaret Taylor

PINSENT Masons senior partner Richard Foley has spoken of the firm’s grief in announcing that the firm’s Scotland and Northern Ireland chair Kirk Murdoch has died.

Mr Murdoch, who had been ill for some time, was a well-known figure in the Scottish business community, having served as both managing partner and senior partner of McGrigors in the years prior to its 2012 merger with Pinsent Masons.

As one of what Mr Foley described as the “primary architects” of the deal, he helped ensure that McGrigors partners received prominent managerial positions within the enlarged entity, something that is unusual in what was essentially a takeover situation.

Mr Murdoch himself, who became a partner in legacy firm McGrigor Donald in 1982, had a seat on the Pinsent Masons board from the time of the merger until last year.

Mr Foley said that Mr Murdoch had been a “huge influence in our firm” as well as being “one of the most distinguished lawyers of his generation”.

“He had an incredibly positive influence in shaping the careers of so many and we will miss him dreadfully,” he added.

“He was unfailingly courteous and thoughtful and was blessed with a great sense of humour.

“So many of us turned to him for wise counsel. We have lost a great friend and our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”

Eilidh Wiseman, president of the Law Society of Scotland and Pinsent Masons’ former general counsel, noted that she had “learned a great deal from his style of inclusive leadership” during her time working alongside Mr Murdoch.