Aberdeen Harbour has appointed Pinsent Masons as legal adviser for its proposed Harbour Expansion Project.
Pinsent Masons will advise on procurement, construction, funding, planning, environmental and property issues relating to the £410 million proposed project located south of the existing Aberdeen Harbour.
The Nigg Bay facility is included in the Scottish Government’s National Planning Framework 3 (NPF3) and would meet future demand for deep berthing space for oil and gas and renewables sector vessels and could attract larger cruise ships to Aberdeen.
The Pinsent Masons team will be led by infrastructure specialist Drysdale Graham, supported by the firm’s Aberdeen head of office Roger Connon, construction law expert Michael Allan and Stuart Cairns, who is the firm’s UK lead on public procurement.
The Aberdeen Harbour Expansion Project appointment consolidates Pinsent Masons’ reputation as a key adviser on large scale infrastructure projects following on from the firm advising the preferred bidder on the £550 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route and on the £800 million Queensferry Crossing (the new Forth Road Bridge).
Roger Connon added: “We made a conscious decision to hire the best available legal talent which added to the strength of our existing energy and maritime teams and that is clearly paying off. The Aberdeen Harbour Expansion Project award ensures we end 2015 on a high and puts Pinsent Masons in strong position to bid for other landmark infrastructure projects across Scotland.”