Pinsent Masons' Connon moves to Vario role

The former head of Pinsent Masons’ Aberdeen office has taken up a new role that focuses on expanding the firm's Vario freelance legal resource to the oil and gas sector.

Roger Connon, a former Pinsent Masons partner with 30 years' professional experience, has been appointed head of oil and gas at Vario, a freelance model that provides experienced lawyers on short to long term projects, allowing businesses to supplement their in-house legal teams at times of peak demand.

The oil price downturn in recent years has led to the widespread restructuring of many energy sector businesses, which has impacted on a range of functions including legal services. With the price of Brent Crude having stabilised at around $50 to $60 a barrel and confidence returning to the sector, Pinsent Masons expects an increase in activity, including project tendering and asset consolidation.

Mr Connon commented: “The oil and gas industry has always used a large number of consultants either to supplement their in-house teams or to provide specialist advice to meet the specific requirements of the business at a given time.

“Legal services budgets and headcounts have fallen in recent years but the legal work has not reduced, and with new projects coming back online there will be a greater need for highly experienced and flexible lawyers to fill the skills gap.

“We believe our Vario model is very well suited to this new environment and our pool of freelance Vario lawyers includes specialists in oil and gas law, versatile individuals who have extensive experience in senior in-house roles, and in employment law, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory, commercial and corporate law.”