National grid powers up legal team with temporary help

A Birmingham utility solicitor has stepped in to run the legal department at electricity giant the National Grid Company while it goes through a multi-billion pound merger, it emerged last week.

Martineau Johnson partner Andrew Whitehead made the temporary move to Coventry after the company asked him to head its legal team while it joins up with gas business Lattice Group.

He will take over on secondment as general counsel and head of legal services from Alison Kay, who is concentrating on the 15 billion deal.

Mr Whitehead said he hoped both firm and client - which have been working together since 1993 - would benefit from the arrangement, expected to run until autumn when the merger is complete.

'By doing this we hope to build on an already strong relationship with them, but I am also hoping it will give me a business-type insight into the way they work,' he said.

City firm CMS Cameron McKenna is acting for National Grid on the merger.

Paula Rohan