QIC GC joins HSF as executive counsel

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has brought in former QIC GC Katrina Swift as its new executive counsel.

Swift joins the real estate practice in a return to HSF.

"The demand for our expertise among the real estate industry has never been greater. Inflation, higher interest rates, planning roadblocks, and climate change are creating new challenges as well as opportunities for investors and developers across the country and overseas. I’m excited to collaborate with the team to assist our clients in navigating the dynamic landscape ahead", she said.

During her 11-year tenure at QIC, Swift served as GC - Product and GC - Real Estate, managing multijurisdictional teams. She helped launch a Luxembourg-domiciled global asset fund last year, as well as a Delaware-domiciled private assets fund in 2016.

She also oversaw a €300m private equity mandate with a major European investment fund, providing exposure to European private equity investments over a three-year span.

“I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Katrina over many years. Katrina’s extensive experience in the creation, reshaping, and management of global asset funds, along with her outstanding advisory work across a large portfolio of real estate assets, will only bolster our leading practice”, HSF real estate managing partner Luke Simpson said.