Drinks giant shakes up legal team after splitting Europe operations

Diageo has appointed Siobhan Moriarty as its new general counsel, replacing current global legal chief Tim Proctor, who is retiring after 13 years in the role.

Moriarty (pictured), who was previously European GC at the drinks giant, will formally step into the top legal role on 1 July, following a transition period that began in January.

One of the largest corporates in the FTSE 100, Diageo counts Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo and Guinness among its brands.

Other senior changes to the in-house legal team include the internal promotions of David Harlock to GC for Africa, Turkey, Russia & Eastern Europe and Catriona Macritchie as GC of Western Europe, following the company's split of its European operations.

Diageo declined to comment on whether the in-house changes would result in a review of its legal advisers.

The company last conducted a formal review of its external advisers in 2009, which saw CMS Cameron McKenna win a spot as a preferred firm for commercial work across continental Europe.

Slaughter and May is Diageo's main corporate adviser in the UK, while other UK firms the company works with include Addleshaw Goddard, Pinsent Masons, Maclay Murray Spens, Morton Fraser and SJ Berwin.

Sullivan & Cromwell is Diageo's main counsel on US corporate matters, while, according to data provided by Mergermarket, other advisers to Diageo include Baker & McKenzie, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Ireland's William Fry and South African outfit Bowman Gilfillan.

One partner who regularly advises the company said: "We take nothing for granted; Diageo works with a large number of law firms and we'd like to think we'd remain an adviser, but Siobhan has to establish strong relationships with her external advisers and work out what works best for her."