One of WA’s most established independent mid-size law-firms has announced a new managing partner after the former leader stepped down
Leading Western Australian mid-tier Kott Gunning has announced the re-appointment of Tom Darbyshire as managing partner, taking over from Stephen Williams who has stepped down after two years in the role.
Darbyshire became a partner at Kott Gunning in 2002 and was managing partner from 2008 to 2012.
He has extensive experience as a litigator with particular emphasis on insolvency, reconstruction and corporate governance.
Darbyshire frequently advises on enforcement of securities and directors’ duties in an insolvency context. Tom will continue to play a key role in the firm’s growing Insolvency and Reconstruction practice.
“I am very excited to lead the Kott Gunning team again, and to build on the strategic changes introduced by Stephen Williams including a new corporate brand that positions the firm as a progressive, independent corporate and commercial law firm” he says.
Kott Gunning is also the Western Australian member representative of ADVOC, an international network of independent law firms.
The firm will host the ADVOC Asia AGM next month in Perth and Tom will be welcoming delegates from independent law firms from all over the world to that event.
Former managing partner Williams will now focus on his insurance law practice acting for defendants (insurers and employers), principally in the workers’ compensation or employers’ indemnity, personal injury and public liability areas.
He says his time as managing partner has been “immensely rewarding”.
“I have particularly enjoyed leading the firm through the recent rebranding and receiving the very positive feedback from our clients,” he says.
