Nine promoted to partner at HSF's Australia branch

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has promoted nine new partners within its Australian offices as part of its global partner promotions round.

The new Australian partners will assume their roles effective 1 May.

"These partners not only come with unquestioned technical excellence and a track record of results, they also possess the leadership skills required to foster high performing teams to deliver an exceptional experience that our clients have come to know and expect”, said Kristin Stammer, executive partner - Asia and Australia.

Matthew Cameron (Brisbane) is part of the employment, industrial relations and safety team. His practice focuses on industrial disputes and enterprise bargaining, and he has helped clients to craft workforce strategies, managed significant litigation and guided them through the business impacts of Australia’s dynamic industrial relations framework

Mia Harrison-Kelf (Sydney) is part of the corporate team, focusing on M&A and takeovers. She has a dozen years of experience working in the APAC region, tackling major M&A transactions in the tech, media and energy sectors. Having worked in the firm’s Singapore office as well, she has advised on public and private M&A, equity investments, fund raising, joint ventures, commercial agreements and corporate advisory.

Laurelle Ko (Sydney) works with the projects, energy and infrastructure team, She has handled significant projects in the energy and renewable sectors and has been key to the country’s energy transition. She has tackled transactions involving asset types such as wind, solar, BESS, hydropower, geothermal power, thermal power and transmission infrastructure.

Homegrown star Tess Mierendorff (Sydney) works with the corporate team, focusing on IP and transactions. She has assisted clients with IP issues in complex commercial transactions across the technology, consumer, media and energy sectors.

Jared Peut (Melbourne) is part of the competition, regulation and trade team. He is an expert in merger clearances, joint venture arrangements and ACCC investigations, and has also guided clients in their responses to ACCC and AER investigations and proceedings, which includes civil and criminal cartel matters.

Anika Sadler (Perth) is part of the disputes group, focusing on commercial litigation/restructuring and turnaround and insolvency. She has advised on strategic high-value disputes and other complex contentious matters. She has taken the lead on litigation and advised target companies and acquirers with regard to mergers by way of scheme of arrangement.

Mathew Shelley (Brisbane) works with the disputes team, concentrating on energy and infrastructure disputes/commercial litigation. He has advised principals, investors, lenders and government clients in the resource and renewable energy sectors. He has litigated in courts and tribunals across Australia.

Claire Thompson (Melbourne) is part of the corporate team, concentrating on M&A and venture capital transactions particularly capital raisings. She has tackled carve-out deals and takeover bids, in addition to guiding founders and investors through early-stage funding rounds.

Joseph Varghese (Melbourne) is part of the projects, energy and infrastructure team, focusing on projects. In a legal career spanning more than 15 years, he has handled matters involving construction, procurement, PPPs, project finance and project development.

“Our firm makes deliberate investments to support the continued growth and success of its leading practices, and investment in our leadership pipeline is crucial”, Stammer said. “Our new partners ensure we have the capability to remain leading in our market for many years to come. And these promotions will continue our strength in areas where we see the biggest opportunities for growth including energy transition and private capital”.

This year, HSF has promoted a total of 27 partners globally.