Pinsent Masons has overhauled its practice and industry sector group focus to tie in with its merger with Scots firm McGrigors, which went live earlier this week (1 May).

The firm is scaling back its sector groups from 10 to four globally: advanced manufacturing and technology; energy and natural resources; financial services; and infrastructure. A fifth sector – core industries and markets – will apply primarily in the UK and will cover areas such as public sector, real estate and sport.

Legacy Pinsents partners are leading three of the sectors, with legacy McGrigors partner Bob Ruddiman leading the energy and natural resources group. In addition to the main sector head positions, Pinsents has also appointed a head of client relationships for each of these sectors, with McGrigors partners holding two of these positions.

As part of the strategic overhaul, the 15-office firm, which is expecting to report combined turnover of just under £300m for 2011-12, has increased its number of practice groups from five to seven.

Former McGrigors partners Michael Watson and James Bullock head the projects and litigation & compliance practices respectively; with Andrew Masraf leading corporate; Richard Foley leading the construction advisory & disputes team; Stephen Miles in charge of financial institutions & human capital; Clive Seddon charged with strategic business services; and Adrian Barlow heading up the property practice.

The non-executive board will work alongside a five-strong executive board, which includes senior partner Chris Mullen (pictured).

With much of the focus since agreeing the merger on integration, management is expecting to draw up a new five-year strategy for the combined firm to run from next year. International priorities include expanding in Asia as well as launching offices in France and Germany, with a possible venture in Turkey also under discussion.

Mullen commented: "Expanding our international piece is part of the rationale for the UK merger. It gives us a stronger platform for global growth and to meet our 2020 vision. More scale gives us greater flexibility to invest, allowing us to focus on key jurisdictions like China and the Gulf."

Pinsents – new sector group heads

Advanced manufacturing and technology services – sector head: David Isaac; head of client relationships: Andrew Hornigold

Energy and natural resources – sector head: Bob Ruddiman; head of client relationships: Paul Rice

Financial services – sector head: John Salmon; head of client relationships: Jason Collins

Infrastructure – sector head: Richard Laudy; head of client relationships: Nick Ogden

Core industries and markets – sector head: Arthur Lovitt; head of client relationships: Tom Leman