Aberdeen practice continues investment in services and talent

Under newly appointed senior partner, Mark Higginson’s leadership, the firm in Aberdeen aims to continue investing in services and talent. His objectives include expanding on the 60% increase in leadership team headcount, development of assurance and tax practices and successful growth of a transaction services team experienced over the last two years.

“We are entering an exciting phase of growth here among our domestic and international clients and our Aberdeen office continues to be a key part of PricewaterhouseCoopers global operations.”
Mark Higginson, Senior Partner, Aberdeen

Assurance

Mark Higginson leads a team of oil & gas assurance specialists with fellow partner Kevin Reynard and newly promoted director Grant Morrison. Five new managers from four different nationalities also bring a wide range of international expertise to a team who are no strangers to international business. The team is highly connected with the firm’s oil & gas groups in London, Houston, Calgary, Norway and Moscow in particular. Working with international clients, undertaking international secondments and networking internally and externally support this.

Amongst an impressive client list, strong audit and other assurance relationships are held with two Aberdeen based FTSE100 companies and we work with a range of other FTSE250 companies.

Tax

Ian Grieg, partner and PricewaterhouseCoopers UK Energy Leader heads up our Aberdeen tax practice. Holding strong relationships with the firms oil & gas teams globally, Ian’s areas of expertise include leasing and international restructuring.
The growing tax practice also includes director Mike Beattie and newly promoted director John Ritchie, whose experience in entrepreneurs and private clients and private equity investments adds strength to a team who are widely recognised within the sector for advising on international tax structuring.

Transaction services

Throughout 2007 and 2008 the Aberdeen M & A market has shown record levels of activity, with deals driven by strong interest in oil & gas service companies from private equity and leveraged finance teams in the banks.

Mark Higginson said that Aberdeen is a “Fertile area for deal activity and offers plenty opportunity for more business.”

Alan Barr, a director from our Transaction Services team heads up the M & A practice in Aberdeen. Alan’s expanding team currently includes a senior manager and manager and draws upon the significant oil & gas experience of the wider Scottish team. Alan leads teams across all of PricewaterhouseCoopers financial due diligence products including buy side and vendor due diligence and has significant experience of private equity/leveraged deals and corporate transactions.

The firm recognises Transaction Services in Aberdeen as a key area of investment and has been supported by expanding the team of specialists. The success of this investment is already being highlighted through the exceptionally high number of deals that the team has completed in the last year.

Contact details
Email: General enquiries
Tel: +44 (0)141 248 2644