HFW Australia continues expansion of construction team
Lateral hires and some internal moves are the latest part of the Australian expansion of international firm HFW.
The moves strengthen the firm’s construction team with partner Alex McKellar and associate Jarrod Gutsa joint the Melbourne office from national firm M+K Lawyers.
Meanwhile, senior associate Kim Moore and associate Chris Cho have relocated to the Melbourne office as part of the construction dispute resolution team.
“We are entering a very exciting phase for the firm with HFW's extensive experience in Asia and the expansion of our construction and infrastructure projects group opening up numerous regional opportunities," commented HFW Australia managing partner Gavin Vallely.
HFW Australia now has 8 partners across its Melbourne, Perth and Sydney offices.
Employment duo joins Kennedys in Sydney
A duo of employment lawyers has joined Kennedys in Sydney from
HWL Ebsworth.
Partner Justin Claude Le Blond who practises in employment and industrial relations law, and work health and safety, in advisory and litigated matters, becomes the global firm’s 22nd lateral hire of the year. He is joined by senior associate Persephone Forster.
“As with the recent opening of our office in Melbourne, we are reinforcing our commitment to the Australian market by expanding our capacity to service national clients,” said Australian managing partner Matt Andrews.
International firm advises consortium on Browne’s deal
Clifford Chance has advised a Chinese consortium on its acquisition of Western Australia’s Brownes dairy firm.
The consortium is led by one of China’s biggest cheese companies, Ground Food, and Brownes will join its network.
The Clifford Chance team was led by Lance Sacks in Sydney who was assisted by counsel Amelia Horvath and Kane Barnett, and senior associate Mark Grime.
Ashurst loses two partners in two weeks
Another partner has left the London office of Ashurst, the second in two weeks to US firms.
M&A lawyer Dominic Ross made partner at Ashurst earlier this year but has now joined US firm White & Case.
His exit follows that of fellow corporate partner James Wood was joining Sidley Austin.
