Gadens’ new Perth office head, Doug Stipanicev, has identified investment in agriculture and Perth’s property market as two potential growth areas for law firms.
Stipanicev, who was appointed as head of the firm’s Perth office in mid-February, said it was an exciting time to lead a legal practice in Western Australia.
“The challenge for all businesses in Western Australia is managing an economy in transition and identifying new opportunities,” he said.
Stipanicev said there was a lot of talk about the effect of the transition from mining investment into the export side of the resources boom.
“But we should not overlook the profit and downstream industry that is going to be generated from exports, and the ongoing investment in the Western Australian energy sector."
Stipanicev also tipped some potential growth areas for law firms in Western Australia.
“The lower Australian dollar will help attract foreign investment in Western Australia’s agricultural sector, particularly from China and the Middle East,” he said.
“There is also opportunity in Perth’s property market with an underexploited residential sector and a rising offshore interest in commercial property.”
Stipanicev joined Gadens in 2012 from
Herbert Smith Freehills, where he was a partner for over 20 years in the banking and finance and property practices.
David Albrecht was formerly Gadens’ Perth office head. Albrecht remains with the firm as a partner in the Perth office.
