Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) today announced that leading corporate energy and resources lawyers, Robert Desmond and Christine Ferguson, have joined its global Energy Group, based in the firm’s Melbourne and Sydney offices respectively.
Robert, who joins as a Partner, has more than 30 years experience advising clients in the energy sector, with a focus on downstream operations (petroleum products refining, related infrastructure, distribution and environmental issues). He has upstream experience with taxation issues associated with coal, mining and synthetic fuels projects. Robert’s energy sector experience has been gained as part of a broader commercial practice involving M&A/JV and Corporations Act matters. Prior to joining HFW, Robert was a Partner at Middletons for 27 years.
Christine, who joins as Special Counsel, has more than 25 years experience advising on project finance and EPC/EPCI issues relating to major on and offshore oil and gas projects in Eastern Europe and Asia, as well as projects in the broader minerals sector. Prior to joining HFW, Christine was a Partner at Clifford Chance working in both their Moscow and London offices, and Special Counsel in Baker Botts’ Baku, Moscow and London offices. She also spent two years as Counsel for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Gavin Vallely, Managing Partner of HFW’s Australian offices comments: “The continued growth of our energy and natural resources practice is a priority for HFW across the global business, in particular in Australasia and the Middle East, where we are involved with several significant on and offshore energy projects. Robert and Christine are widely respected energy lawyers and their industry expertise enhances our capability to deliver an integrated cross-border service to our clients with a range of operations in the region.”
Alistair Mackie, global head of the firm’s corporate practice says: “We are delighted to welcome another two lawyers of such high calibre to our growing international corporate and projects team. Their arrival coincides with that of Robert Follie in our Paris office, who also brings more than 20 years of M&A and transactional expertise in the European and North African oil & gas and renewable sectors. This expansion is part of the firm’s continued investment in our international energy capability and shows our commitment to the sector.”
This announcement comes on the back of a significant number of recent Partner hires the firm has made across core international practices, including: Nick Longley (construction – Hong Kong); Rhys Lewis (corporate – Dubai); Robert Follie and Hervé Israël (corporate – Paris); Konstantinos Adamantopoulos (EU competition – Brussels); Eliza Petritsi (EU competition – London); Richard Spiller and Ashwani Kochhar (corporate insurance – London); and Jonathan Bruce (insurance – London).
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