NRF boosts Canberra team with four lateral partners

Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) has scored a major coup, announcing that four partners will join the firm in Canberra later this year to boost the national government practice.

The firm has confirmed that Sparke Helmore partners Holly McAdam, Richard Morrison, and Martin Taylor will join the firm, along with Catherine Whitby from Clayton Utz.

“We highly value our strong links to federal and state governments, supported by a large and diverse national government practice. The appointment of four high-calibre government advisors, in Holly, Richard, Martin, and Catherine, demonstrates our ongoing commitment to these important relationships and to investing in a strong presence in Canberra to serve the federal government into the future,” said Wayne Spanner, NRF’s managing partner in Australia.

McAdam, who brings more than 15 years of experience to NRF from Sparke Helmore and Clayton Utz, will lead the firm’s Canberra office. Her practice primarily advises Commonwealth government departments and agencies on major acquisition and sustainment programs. She has a focus on tendering and contracting, as well as enforcing contracts.

Morrison specialises in major procurement projects and dispute resolution. His more than 20 years of experience includes a focus on front-end matters, including procurement, tendering, and contracting, as well as and pre-litigation disputes. He was also previously with Clayton Utz.

Taylor has a focus on major infrastructure projects and construction works. His clients include governments, statutory utilities, and private developers, which he advises on project procurement and delivery in major domestic and international projects. He was previously with Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) in London and MinterEllison.

Whitby, who was also previously with the Australian Department of Health, the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, and Maddocks, focuses on statutory interpretation, privacy, administrative/public law and regulation, procurement, legislative drafting, compliance and governance, and regulatory law.

Michael Greene, who heads the government team at NRF, said that the new partners will bring decades of experience advising government and private sector clients on large-scale infrastructure and technology projects.

“Their strong history of advice across procurement, contracting, regulation, investigations and dispute resolution will only enhance our offering to existing and future clients and is a substantial boost to our Commonwealth government practice,” he said.

NRF also recently recruited partner Paul Lingard in Perth from Clifford Chance, partner Miriam D’Souza in Perth from HSF, partner Chris Patten in Brisbane from Allens, senior government advisor Bill Conley in Canberra, partner Andrew Battisson in Sydney from Allen & Overy, partner Natasha Toholka in Melbourne from Hall & Wilcox, partner Penelope Ford in Perth from MinterEllison, and partner Gavin Scott in Brisbane from Ashurst.