Dublin law firm Arthur Cox has hired the Belfast head of Pinsent Masons for its Belfast operation.  Paul McBride will join the firm later this year.  The new recruit will strengthen Arthur Cox’s corporate and commercial team, which is headed by former managing partner and current chairman Alan Taylor. Ranked as a ‘leader in the field’ in the UK and Europe’s legal guides, Mr McBride has advised on many significant mergers and acquisitions, management buy-outs and venture capital projects. He advised Terra Firma on the sale of Phoenix Natural Gas to Hastings and led the team advising W&R Barnett Limited on its acquisition of the molasses trading and bulk liquid storage business of Tate & Lyle plc. Commenting on the appointment, Alan Taylor said: 'Paul’s appointment is a landmark development for the legal sector in Northern Ireland and his expertise will add to our ability to ensure the successful completion of any kind of transaction.'