International firm, Pinsent Masons will launch an infrastructure sector-focused practice in both Sydney and Melbourne later in the year.
The announcement comes after a strategic review into the firm’s entry into the Australian market by David Rennick, former CEO of
Maddocks, who will head up the new firm.
Current Maddocks partners, Greg Campbell and Simela Karavidis will be joining Rennick at the Australian offices as founding partners.
Former Pinset Masons lawyer Michael Battye will join the firm from a private practice in Adelaide, along with Adam Perl who will join the firm from his role a senior in-house legal counsel at Leightons.
The firm will focus on its existing international client base and major funders of infrastructure projects in the Asia Pacific, as well as aiming to advise on in-bound and domestic work in Australia.
“We have done our homework on the market and taken the time to recruit a top quality team. We are confident that, through a keen focus on the infrastructure sector initially and a real commitment to innovative delivery of high quality legal services, we will have a compelling proposition for existing and potential clients,” said Richard Foley, senior partner at Pinsent Masons.
The firm made the decision to launch in Australia following a period of significant international expansion.
“The firm’s 30-year heritage in Asia is a particular distinguishing factor, as is the depth of its specialism in particular sectors,” said Rennick. “We have an opportunity to bring a new kind of law firm to the Australian market, with an internationally recognised brand, and that excites me.”
