Clyde & Co has reinforced its cyber risk advisory capabilities in Australia with the appointment of Simone Herbert-Lowe (pictured) as a partner in its Sydney office, amid increasing demand for expertise in cyber risk, governance, and regulatory response across the insurance and corporate sectors.
Herbert-Lowe brings three decades of experience spanning law, insurance, and enterprise risk management, including the past eight years focused specifically on cyber threats and regulatory strategy.
She joins the firm from Law & Cyber, a specialist consultancy she founded in 2018, which has delivered cyber education to thousands of professionals across various sectors.
As part of Clyde & Co’s global Cyber One team, Herbert-Lowe is expected to support the development of its Australian cyber law offering and facilitate integration with the firm’s international cyber network.
Herbert-Lowe said she looks forward to contributing to Clyde & Co’s global approach.
“Joining Clyde & Co will allow me to combine my decades of experience with the strength of a global platform to be able to service client needs, navigate cyber risk, and respond to any incidents in the most effective manner, being part of a large global team of experts,” she said.
Herbert-Lowe has served in advisory roles with the Australasian Society for Computers + Law (AUSCL) and taught as an adjunct lecturer at the College of Law in Sydney. Her contributions have extended to government policy discussions, including input to a parliamentary committee on cybercrime and expert testimony in fraud-related litigation.
The Cyber One practice delivers around-the-clock cyber support via Clyde & Co’s 70 global offices, allowing clients in Australia access to continuous response and advisory capabilities.
Helen Bourne, who co-leads the firm’s global cyber practice, said Herbert-Lowe’s experience supports client expectations for cross-border consistency.
“Simone’s hire will help further build out our global offering. The firm regularly acts for large corporates who look for one cohesive team of advisors around the world who can handle all client needs. With Simone joining, the Australia practice will flourish and remain a cornerstone of our global offering,” she said.
Clyde & Co’s Australia managing partner, Rebecca Kelly, said the appointment reflects the firm’s efforts to align with growing client interest in cyber resilience.
“I am delighted that Simone is joining the firm. She will be instrumental in growing our Australian cyber offering, which forms part of our strong global service offering. Cyber incidents are front of mind across the business community, and we look forward to helping our clients navigate this risk,” she said.
The appointment follows Clyde & Co’s expansion in June 2024, when the firm added five partners and 15 senior associates across its Australian offices.
The firm’s increased focus on cyber legal services coincides with mounting concerns among insurers and brokers over the frequency and financial impact of cyber incidents.
Recent data from the ACCC’s Scamwatch indicated that email scams have overtaken other forms of contact to become the primary channel for fraud in Australia. Approximately 91,000 email-related scams were reported in 2024, with nearly 18,000 additional reports filed by February 2025.
Since 2020, Australians have reported nearly $300 million in losses connected to email scams. Older demographics have been particularly impacted, with those over 65 accounting for a substantial share of reported losses. Investment scams, which often involve impersonation of financial service providers, accounted for nearly half of the total value lost via email-based fraud.
Scamwatch data also highlighted other high-impact scam types, including false billing, online marketplace fraud, romance scams, and deceptive online purchases.
In parallel, cybersecurity risks linked to ransomware and data breaches are also escalating. According to Bitdefender, Australia ranked sixth globally for ransomware activity in February 2025, recording 962 incidents – more than double the count from the same period in 2024.
Surfshark reported that more than 47 million Australian accounts were compromised in 2024, placing the country 11th worldwide in breach volume. Since 2004, over 192 million Australian accounts have been affected, with nearly 50 million unique email addresses exposed.
