Accomplished government advisor joins NRF

Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has attracted an accomplished government advisor in Canberra.

Bill Conley has joined the firm and has been appointed as a senior government advisor, bringing with him more than 40 years’ experienced in many of the nation’s top-tier law firms. Conley also runs his own consulting firm called Bethesda Consulting.

Conley built his legal career at legacy Dawson Waldron, joining the firm’s partnership in 1981. From then until 1993, he was a corporate partner in Sydney until his move to Canberra and to representing Commonwealth agencies.

During his time working with Commonwealth agencies, he was primarily advising the Department of Defence and the Department of Finance. For a time, he was Ashurst’s Canberra managing partner.

He stayed at Ashurst until the start of 2015, when he decided to become a legal consultant at King & Wood Mallesons (KWM). He left KWM in December 2017.

In his new role, he will work closely with national head of government and deputy managing partner Michael Greene, who is based in both Canberra and Sydney, NRF said. Both will work within the firm’s national government advisors team.

“Our extended Commonwealth and state government teams play a crucial role in advising government departments and agencies, which are among our most valued clients. We are pleased to have someone of Bill’s experience join our government practice and our Canberra office. We will work with him to keep meeting the needs of Commonwealth and state organisations and those that work in the broader government sector,” Greene said.

Conley’s work with government bodies includes strategic commercial and legal advice, as well as contract drafting and negotiation in major capital equipment procurement. These include ships, submarines, aircraft and vehicles.

Talking about his move, he said that NRF has a depth of experience in not just government advice, but an important range of services relevant to government projects and operations, such as procurement, which includes contract drafting and negotiation and strategic advice. The firm is also an expert in Commonwealth and state regulation and dispute resolution, particularly in the areas of ITC, infrastructure, construction and real estate, he said.

Earlier this month, the firm added international arbitration expertise with the appointment of partner Andrew Battisson from Allen & Overy.

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