Global law firm Clyde & Co has announced the appointment of five partners and 15 senior associates within its Australian offices, effective July 1, 2024.
This marks a total of 27 promotions in Australia this year.
Leah Hewish (pictured), part of Clyde & Co since its 2012 entry into the Australian market, has been promoted to partner in the first-party property and energy insurance practice. Her expertise includes homeowner, small and mid-size enterprise (SME) and industrial special risks, and fraud claims.
In Brisbane, Hannes Marais and Jennifer Robbins have been promoted to partners. Marais brings extensive experience in professional indemnity litigation, especially within the construction sector, often representing engineers and certifiers. Meanwhile, Robbins focuses on financial lines insurance, handling claims involving financial institutions, directors’ and officers’ liability, professional indemnity, and cyber issues.
Ross Donaldson, promoted in the Melbourne office, has substantial experience in managing disputes related to casualty, professional indemnity, and construction insurance.
Anthony Cooke, admitted to practice in both Australia and New Zealand, has been promoted in the Sydney office. His new role will enhance Clyde & Co’s regional cyber advisory services, focusing on cybersecurity, data protection, and privacy matters.
Gareth Horne, chair of the Australian insurance practice at Clyde & Co, said the partner promotions align with the firm’s expansion plans.
“The most recent round of partner promotions is strategically important as it reflects the firm’s commitment to grow the mid-market and SME offering in Australia in addition to our market-leading major and complex loss practice. This reflects growing demand in this space as our clients adjust their own capacity in an increasingly complex and competitive insurance market,” he said.
Earlier in the year, Melissa Tang was promoted to partner within the energy, marine, and natural resources practice area. James Rigney and Luke O’Kane also achieved partner status within the global insurance practice.
Additionally, three promotions to special counsel were made in the firm’s cyber practice, which includes cyber breach response services. Another promotion occurred within the projects & construction practice.
In May 2024, Clyde & Co hired special counsel Amy Thompson and David Wright. Thompson, previously with Linklaters, focuses on financial services regulation, risk frameworks, governance, and cryptocurrencies. Wright, from Holding Redlich, specialises in projects and construction, managing complex disputes within the infrastructure, construction, and energy sectors.
Effective July 1, the firm will also appoint 15 individuals to senior associate, culminating in a total of 27 promotions in Australia this year.
These promotions are part of Clyde & Co’s strategy to meet the evolving needs of local and global clients in core sectors such as insurance, projects & construction, aviation, and energy, marine, and natural resources.
“Our new partners, special counsel, and senior associates reflect the amazing talent of our people, which is essential to provide clients with the high level of service and specialist expertise they expect,” said Rebecca Kelly, Australia managing partner at Clyde & Co. “All those promoted provide exceptional support to our clients and help us perform at our best as a firm.
“They also represent the next generation of senior lawyers and are shining examples of Clyde & Co’s values in action with their focus on client excellence, working together as part of a global team, and celebrating and welcoming different perspectives and ideas from across the firm. Congratulations to all as they mark the next milestone in their careers.”
In the past year, the firm has promoted Stefanie Luhrs to partner in its cyber practice, hired Liam Hennessy into its regulatory & investigations practice, and relocated Rebecca Kelly from Dubai to Brisbane, where she has taken up the role of Australia managing partner.
