by Mark Abernethy
Norton Rose Fulbright has announced another Australian partner as it continues to expand its local presence.
Experienced employment and labour lawyer Samantha Maddern has become a partner of Norton Rose Fulbright in Perth, bolstering the firm’s expertise in industrial matters and particularly in occupational health and safety law.
Maddern joins Norton Rose from
Herbert Smith Freehills, where she managed workplace relations matters for clients in oil & gas, mining and tertiary education. Before her five years at
Herbert Smith Freehills she worked at
Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
Norton Rose said Maddern would add depth to the employment and labour offering, and she also had considerable experience in organisational change, enterprise bargaining, employment law (hiring, termination, unfair dismissal) and industrial disputes.
Managing partner at the firm in Australia, Wayne Spanner, said Maddern’s hiring would inject more talent into the partnership, coming soon after the July 1 promotion of six new partners.
“Samantha is a well-known and highly experienced workplace adviser in the Perth market, with strong links to major companies in the energy and mining industries,” said Spanner. “Beyond the contribution she will make to our national employment and labour team, we also look forward to her continuing to develop her passion for mentoring, thought leadership, volunteering and pro bono work.”
Norton Rose Fulbright in Australia has now added six new lateral partners since January 2016: as well as Samantha Maddern, there are Peter Lamont, Ellen Thomas, Jacques Jacobs, Samantha Kelly and Peter Bowden.
Maddern said she was impressed by Norton Rose Fulbright’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and workplace diversity, as well as the focus on WA’s main industries
“What appealed to me in joining an elite global law firm like Norton Rose Fulbright was its global commitment to the core industries of energy and mining,” said Maddern. “There is a strong alignment between my existing major clients and the firm’s, many of which are active in the West Australian market.”
