The promotions reflect the firm’s focus on growing capabilities central to client operations
In step with the changing needs of clients in Australia, Pinsent Masons has elevated two of its lawyers in the country to the partnership.
Tom Heading and George Varma are among the 15 new partners announced by the global firm worldwide. The appointments, which take effect on 1 May, add to the senior ranks of the firm in Australia, which has grown since 2015 from a small group in two offices to nearly 100 people across offices in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney.
“Pinsent Masons is a firm that takes enormous pride in its people. The promotions of Tom and George are very well deserved. We congratulate them for their hard work and dedication to the firm,” said David Rennick, head of Pinsent Masons Australia. “Our continuous growth in Australia is hard to ignore. The recent promotions reflect our focus on growing the capabilities that are central to our clients' operations.”
Heading, who is based in Melbourne, is known for his infrastructure work, in which he advises contractors on project delivery and dispute resolution. He is promoted from senior associate, a post he assumed after moving from Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) in late 2017.
Varma, who is based in Perth, is a specialist in the renewable energy, oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure sectors. He has a particular focus on advising clients on project procurement and delivery matters.
Tom Heading and George Varma
Varma, who joined the firm in late 2017 from NRF, is one of the founding members of the Perth office. He is the first lawyer from the Western Australian capital to be made partner.
Pinsent Masons said that the appointment highlights the recent successes of the Perth office. Those include welcoming partner Brian Scott from Herbert Smith Freehills in Singapore, as well as partner Katie Williams who relocated from Aberdeen, Scotland, where she was the leader.
“Since joining the firm in late 2017, it's been exciting to see our capabilities in the energy resources and infrastructure sectors continue to expand and adapt to the needs of our clients,” said Adrienne Parker, one of the four partners who established the office. “We have an excellent mix of talent that is not only unique to the Western Australia market, but translates seamlessly to our work across the wider Asia-Pacific region.”
Perth leaders: Katie Williams, George Varma, Adrienne Parker, and Brian Scott
