MMS to sponsor top Olympic swimmer

UK commercial law firm Maclay Murray & Spens is to sponsor one of the country's top swimmers as she bids for success in the Rio Olympics.

Keri-anne Payne, who won a silver medal in the open water 10K event at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, followed by gold in the 2009 and 2011 world championships, will become an ambassador for MMS, in return for the firm's support through the various competitions leading up to Rio in 2016.

Her regime sees her train six days a week, undertaking 10 sessions in the pool, topped up with three sessions on land, a total of 30 hours a week. Based in Edinburgh, she trains through the long-established Warrender Baths Club, the base of some eight former and current Olympic and Paralympic medallists.

She also works with Red Sky Management, a business which advises people in the business and sporting worlds, identifying their skillset, converting their potential and ensuring their continual, exceptional development.

As an ambassador for MMS, Ms Payne will be involved in recruitment projects and the firm’s knowledge, learning and development programme. She will also be active in the firm’s promotional and client communication initiatives and support its work in the Lex Mundi international network of law firms, where MMS is the sole UK-headquartered firm.

Kenneth Shand, chief executive of MMS, commented: "Keri-anne's determination, focus and winning instinct have seen her become an accomplished athlete. Her experience in setting and achieving high personal goals are valuable lessons for everyone. We look forward to supporting Keri-anne in her quest to deliver on her Rio ambitions, and to sharing some of that insight, inspiration and enthusiasm with our own teams and clients."

Ms Payne responded: "This sponsorship will make a huge difference and allow me to fund my training and competition programme in preparation for Rio. However, I’m looking forward to my partnership with MMS being more than financial support. Learning in the water is a huge part of my programme and I think business has many lessons it can teach sports people and vice versa. I hope we will be learning from each other and I look forward to sharing my story and supporting the firm.

"My main goal is to be at the top of the podium at Rio in 2016 and I’m working towards this as part of a three year cycle. Before Rio, my biggest competitions will be the World Championships this summer, which is the Olympic qualifier, and I need to be top 10 in the world to qualify."

MMS currently has some 25 partners and staff involved in coaching sports organisations and individuals as part of the Work Out for Sport initiative, Scotland's workplace volunteer programme. It also sponsors the Paul Lawrie Golf Centre and last year supported the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.