New appointees to lead restructuring and investigations efforts
Ashurst has made significant additions to its Perth office by bringing in Richard Johnson and Kirsten Scott as partners, signalling the firm's strategic growth in key legal areas.
Johnson joins the firm as a partner in the Restructuring and Special Situations Group (RSSG), while Scott will serve as an Investigations partner within the Employment team. These appointments are in line with Ashurst's commitment to expanding its expertise in the energy, resources, and mining sectors, both locally in Perth and on a global scale.
Johnson is known for his work in debt restructuring and corporate insolvency. His clientele includes directors, creditors, corporates, and restructuring practitioners. He handles both non-contentious and contentious issues, offering advice on the insolvent trading safe harbour regime, corporate governance, creditors' rights and security enforcement, distressed acquisitions and disposals, and both consensual and contested debt restructuring matters.
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Notably, he spent a decade as a partner at HWL Ebsworth, where he founded and led the Restructuring and Insolvency practice in Perth. He also has experience as a lawyer at Minter Ellison.
"Ashurst's reputation as a leading global firm with a strong record in the restructuring and insolvency space in Australia and the Asia Pacific region will support me to provide a broad range of solutions to clients. I am eager to work with the talented team at Ashurst and contribute to the firm's continued success,” Johnson said.
Scott brings a wealth of experience in disputes and investigations, regulatory enforcement, and white-collar crime. She focuses on corporate, regulatory, workplace, and safety investigations, with a particular emphasis on the mining and energy sectors.
She joins Ashurst from Johnson Winter Slattery, where she was a partner. Her career also includes roles at Clifford Chance and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, specialising in white-collar crime.
"I am pleased to join a firm of Ashurst's calibre and global reach. The opportunity to work alongside some of the industry's best legal minds and contribute to significant, complex matters is incredibly exciting. I look forward to applying my expertise and experience for the benefit of the firm's clients and contributing to growing Ashurst's strong reputation in investigations,” Scott said.