Scottish Power's UK head of legal, Gennofir Macleod, has left the company and has been replaced by Charles Reynard, who was promoted to the role in early November.

Macleod left the FTSE 100 energy company last month and Reynard, who worked in the company's corporate division, has taken on the role, working under director of legal James Stanley.

The energy giant instructs Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for top-tier advice but has also used Norton Rose and Scots leaders McGrigors and Shepherd & Wedderburn. Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy has also advised the company on US issues.

In June, Freshfields advised the company on the $9.4bn (£5.4bn) sale of its US subsidiary, Oregon-based power generator PacifiCorp, to Iowa-based energy provider MidAmerican Energy Holdings. The magic circle firm has an established relationship with the company and advised on its £4.2bn acquisition of PacifiCorp in 1999.

However, a takeover of Scottish Power (which in recent months has been subject to a potential £10bn-plus bid from German power company E.ON) could result in a change of lead counsel.