Pinsent Masons has bagged a new partner for its expanding Scots arm with the appointment of respected employment partner Kirsty Ayre.

Ayre joins the national giant from Brodies at the end of August and will head up Pinsents' employment group in Scotland.

She will work in the firm's Edinburgh office but will divide her time with the Glasgow branch.

Ayre, a former legacy Pinsent Curtis lawyer, has a strong background in both the financial and litigation sectors and specialises in large-scale employment transfers, corporate re-organisations and specialist trade union work.

She is English-qualified and experienced in both contentious and non-contentious work and will now work as part of Pinsents' 16-partner national employment practice.

Pinsents national employment head Chris Booth said: "As an employment group, we now have genuine coverage across the UK and we are delighted to welcome her back to the team."

Pinsents' employment department acts for clients including Marks & Spencer and GE Capital.

Earlier this year, the firm was appointed to advise UK facilities management company Bureau Veritas on its employment and real estate work and as its joint corporate adviser alongside top 10 City firm Lovells.