Chris Vaughan joins the group from brewing giant SABMiller, where he was the joint head of legal, and will now head up a team of lawyers worldwide, reporting to chief executive Ian Tyler.
 
A spokeswoman from Balfour Beatty told B&E online the decision to create the post was as a result of the company growing by way of acquisitions and to provide light in an increasingly regulatory environment.
 
She said: “It strengthens the senior management of the group as we continue to develop and grow, which includes acquisitions. It is also because our markets and growth, which we aim to achieve, is creating a more complex legal regulatory environment for the group to work in. So for those reasons Chris was brought in.”
 
A member of the Society of Construction Law (SCL) told B&E online that the newly created post was a very good idea for a firm of Balfour Beatty’s size.
 
He said: “It is a very good idea for a company of that size to have a general counsel. If you look at the big American companies, like Dectel and others, they have that sort of role for companies. Their primary function is to make sure the company stays on track from a legal perspective all around the world. The group board needs someone there to give them legal advice internally. So the general counsel would build contacts with lawyers all around the world who are able to advise him, then he will be able to advise the board.”
 
Vaughan will have his work cut out after Tyler announced that the group is seeking opportunities in the gas, electricity and water markets in regions across the UK where the company does not already operate.
 
Within the last two months the group has acquired construction trader Cowlin Group
and facilities management company Covion.
 
The group used external advisers on previous acquisitions, but it is thought that Vaughan will be heavily involved in future purchases, the SCL member said.
 
He said: “He would give the legal advice on the acquisitions and the contracts prior to entering them. He’ll give legal advice on a whole range of issues from property to personnel to disputes.”