By Ian McConnell

VETERAN oil and gas lawyer Calum Crighton has been hired by Gilson Gray to join its expanding corporate practice.

The Scottish law firm noted Mr Crighton, who will be based in Aberdeen, had 15 years of commercial law experience “primarily focused on upstream oil and gas and the associated supply chain”.

It added: “Dual qualified in both Scottish and English law, Calum will…play an integral role in the further extension of the firm’s oil and gas practice.”

Gilson Gray noted, prior to co-founding consultancy Lex Energy, Mr Crighton had held senior legal positions with Pinsent Masons, Fairfield Energy and Premier Oil.

It described him as “one of the leading oil and gas lawyers in Scotland”. A spokeswoman for the law firm said Mr Crighton had “recently left Lex Energy to take up his role at Gilson Gray”.

The law firm declared: “His appointment follows significant developments in the energy sector for the firm, including the recent appointment to the legal panel of one of the leading national oil majors.” It declined to name this oil major.

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Gilson Gray noted it already represented a number of contractors and operators in the oil and gas and renewables sectors.

Derek Hamill, partner and head of corporate at Gilson Gray, said: “Calum is well-respected within the oil and gas sector and his wealth of proven experience across not only exploration and production but also the wider energy supply chain was a major attraction for us as a firm.”

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Glen Gilson, chairman and managing partner, said: “Gilson Gray remains committed to expansion.

“Our investment in the energy sector affords us heavyweight expertise. Calum’s appointment adds to this excellent multi-disciplinary team who now service some of the world’s leading energy clients.”

Mr Crighton said: “Joining a firm that is forward-thinking, fast-paced, disruptive and making its presence known in the oil and gas community is an exciting next step for me.”