Pinsent Masons mourns Vincent Connor
Leading Scottish lawyer and respected Hong Kong-based adviser Vincent Connor passed away on 5 October following a period of illness.
A partner and head of Pinsent Masons' Hong Kong office, Mr Connor was a passionate advocate for Scottish businesses operating in Asia and an industry-recognised specialist in construction and engineering law. He was well known in Hong Kong's legal and business circles, and worked on some of the territory's most prestigious engineering projects over the last 14 years.
He was chairman of the International Infrastructure Forum of the British Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and the honorary legal adviser to the Institution of Civil Engineers in Hong Kong. He sat on the Advisory Board of the Law Faculty at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and was a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
In 2018 he was admitted by the First Minister to the GlobalScot Hall of Fame in recognition of the his work to promote Scotland internationally, particularly in Hong Kong, since being appointed a GlobalScot in 2007.
A Glasgow University law graduate, he was also a trustee of the Saltire Foundation, which supports high-flying Scottish graduates in securing international work experience opportunities, and chaired a council of Scottish business people in Hong Kong which works closely with Entrepreneurial Scotland to help build up a sustainable flow of Saltire Scholars to Asia.
Richard Foley, Senior Partner at Pinsent Masons, said: "We are so deeply saddened by the loss of our friend, partner and colleague. Vincent had a profound impact on those around him. He was of course a talented lawyer and inspiring leader, but what we all remember is Vincent the man – a true gentleman who was unfailingly kind, funny and ever thoughtful of others.
"He leaves behind so many friends within the Hong Kong business and legal community, all of whom will be thinking of Gillian, Vincent's wife, at this very sad time. Vincent enriched our firm and the lives of people around him in so many ways. We were so lucky to have had him as our friend. He will be sorely missed and all our thoughts are with Gillian and their families at this time."