Holman Fenwick Willan today announced the opening of its third Australian office, in Perth, WA, continuing its strategy of international expansion. The move is the latest in a period of sustained growth for the firm and underpins its positioning as the leading law firm for international commerce.
The office will be headed by new recruit Julian Sher – an established figure in the Perth legal market. Julian, who joins as a Partner, has more than 25 years experience as a commercial litigation lawyer in Perth, advising on banking and international documentary credits, securities enforcement, insolvency, company law, trade practices and insurance. Prior to joining the independent bar in Perth in 2008, Julian was a Partner in charge of the Perth office of Corrs Chambers Westgarth and leader of that firm’s commercial litigation group.
Julian will be joined in Perth by foundation Partners Hazel Brewer, who was previously a Consultant with the firm based in Perth, and James Donoghue.
Hazel has over 20 years experience in international shipping and trade litigation. Prior to joining HFW’s Dubai office in 2006, Hazel was a partner of a niche shipping and trade practice in London where she specialised in carriage and related sale contract issues arising from offshore oil & gas projects.
James has been involved in the energy and natural resources sector for more than 20 years, the last 6 of those in Asia. His areas of practice include the acquisition, development, joint venturing and sale of mining, oil & gas and power projects in Australia and abroad. Before joining HFW in 2010, James was a Partner of Blake Dawson, based in that firm’s Jakarta office.
The new office will harness HFW’s growing presence in the energy and natural resources sector, which continues to undergo substantial growth in Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region. It will provide a physical base to enhance our service to clients operating not only in the West Australian offshore oil & gas and mining industries in particular, but also in related markets such as shipping, ports & terminals, commodities, (re)insurance, corporate, projects and finance, all of which are core sectors of focus for HFW.
Gavin Vallely, Managing Partner of HFW’s Australian offices comments: “Since I joined HFW in 2006, opening a Perth office has been part of our strategy for the Asia-Pacific region. We have served clients in Perth and Western Australia for many years and as we continue to see growth in on and offshore natural resources and the global movement of high volumes of freight, taking this important step was a natural choice.”
The firm’s Senior Partner, Richard Crump adds: “Since opening our office in Melbourne in 2006, we have viewed Australia as integral to our international strategy. The growth of our Australian practice, from 4 Partners and 6 Associates to today’s 14 Partners and 30 Associates, and including the opening of our Sydney office at the end of 2009, emphasises the desire of our clients to have legal advisers they can trust in the markets in which they operate.”
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