Ashurst Morris Crisp is reorganising its energy and transport work along sector lines by merging its energy, projects and transport groups.
The City firm has launched an energy, transport and infrastructure department to replace the three groups.
Michael Johns, who headed up the former energy division, will become the combined group’s head. Transport head Raymond Bevan and projects head Mark Elsey will continue to lead their sub-sections.
Johns said the groups were restructured to provide a platform for domestic and international growth. Ashursts’ target markets are Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.
The move comes as Ashursts is trying to strengthen its profile in the sector, which is seen to lag behind City rivals like Herbert Smith, Denton Wilde Sapte and Cameron McKenna, despite the firm’s well respected contentious energy practice.
The combined group will advise its clients in the energy and transport sectors on corporate and commercial work including mergers and acquisitions, regulations and projects including private finance.
The energy group recently acted for Centrica and NRG Energy on acquisitions and Kuwait Petroleum on a pipeline project. Ashursts also advised on the London Underground public private partnership, acting for Metronet’s funders.
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