Shepherd and Wedderburn has appointed David Laurie as a Glasgow-based associate, advising clients on competition and regulatory issues in the gas & electricity and water sectors throughout the UK and Ireland.
Laurie will join the firm in March.
Also, Sebastian McMichael has been appointed as a senior solicitor, and brings with him significant competition law experience in the utilities sector. Sebastian is based in the firm’s London office, which recently moved to allow growth.
With four years at OFGEM (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets) under his belt, Laurie has already acquired unique expertise in the regulation of the utilities sector in the UK, particularly in renewables.
He said: “I have a wide range of experience and am pleased to see my career progressing with such a prominent firm in the UK. With Scotland’s target for electricity from renewable energy set at 40% by 2020, a vibrant market has developed, and it’s an exciting time to be involved.”
McMichael returns to the firm, where he underwent his traineeship, after a four year spell as an associate at magic circle firm, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. He will provide competition and regulatory advice to clients in the utilities sector. His position will enhance the firm’s capability to deal with all regulatory and competition law matters including dawn raids in the City of London. It also means that the firm has a permanent regulatory and competition presence in each of its offices (London, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow). Sebastian’s sector experience to date includes acquisitions for companies such as East Surrey Holdings plc and British Gas Connections; Bristol Water Group plc and Midlands Electricity.
Patrick Andrews, chief executive of Shepherd and Wedderburn, said: “The success of Shepherd and Wedderburn is largely driven by the talent of the people we have working with us. David’s industry experience will be invaluable to our utilities clients and Sebastian’s magic circle experience and dual qualification is sure to further enhance the service we offer our UK clients.”