Pinsents mourns death of former Masons chief

The former global managing partner of Pinsent Masons legacy firm Masons Tony Bunch has died after suffering a brain tumour.

A litigator, Bunch became a partner at 27 and went on to hold the roles of Hong Kong senior partner and UK managing partner. In 1997 he took on the Masons global managing partner role and was instrumental in the 2004 merger between Pinsents and Masons.

Head of sectors Alastair Morrison, who worked with Bunch for 11 years, including on the Masons negotiating team, said: “Tony helped deliver the merger from a theoretical thing into reality. He saw the opportunity and really worked it through.”

He added: “He was a wonderful family man, incredibly thoughtful and had a wide command of issues. He could lead on construction law or on merger discussions.”

After the tie-up between the two firms Bunch became a member of the merged entity’s board and served as its international operations partner. In that latter role he oversaw the firm’s Beijing office launch as well as expansion in Hong Kong and Shanghai (15 January 2007).

He remained as international operations partner until stepping down last year as a result of ill health.

Pinsent Masons senior partner Chris Mullen commented: “Tony was a hugely impressive litigator with a great reputation in construction circles worldwide, as well as making a major contribution to the firm’s own development.

“He was a highly intelligent, gentle man, who leaves behind a loving family, and he will be greatly missed by all of us - his partners and colleagues, clients and many friends around the globe - who knew and worked with him over his 35-year career.”