Global law firm HFW has expanded its insurance practice in Australia with two new special counsel hires in Sydney, continuing a growth strategy aimed at strengthening its capabilities in the region.
Dominic Russell (pictured left), formerly with Dentons, joined HFW in September, followed by Phillip Thomas (pictured right), who came from Meridian Lawyers in October.
This latest expansion marks three new special counsel for HFW’s Sydney insurance group since the beginning of the current fiscal year, with Grant Covington, an insurance and litigation specialist, joining in October 2023.
In the past year, HFW has been identified by the Australian Financial Review as one of Australia’s fastest-growing law firms, with a total of 13 new partner appointments across its Australian offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.
The firm’s recent hires span multiple legal areas, including regulatory, corporate, restructuring, and arbitration practices, aimed at supporting its strategic growth in key sectors.
Gavin Vallely, managing partner of HFW in Australia, said the recent additions – including Russell and Thomas – are part of the firm’s continued investment in Australia and its long-term growth plan.
“I am pleased to welcome Dominic and Phillip to HFW. Their appointments follow a series of hires we have made in Australia in the last 18 months as we continue to invest in our business and implement our growth plan,” he said.
Russell’s expertise spans commercial litigation, employment law, and investigation matters, with a focus on contractual enforcement, regulatory issues, and white-collar crime.
His clients have included a range of public and private entities, boards, and individuals across industries such as financial services, engineering, mining, and professional services.
His litigation experience includes cases at all levels of the Australian court system, from the NSW Court of Appeal to the High Court.
Thomas brings over 10 years of experience in the insurance sector, specialising in professional indemnity, construction, public liability, and policy coverage issues.
He has represented both domestic and international clients, including global insurers, Lloyd’s syndicates, and other major players in the insurance market, and has experience managing high-profile cases across multiple Australian jurisdictions, including the Federal Court and the NSW Supreme Court.
HFW’s global head of insurance and reinsurance, Christopher Foster, noted that the new special counsels bring significant litigation expertise that will enhance the firm’s global insurance practice and support its clients.
“As experienced practitioners with an impressive track record in litigation, Dominic and Phillip will make a valuable contribution to our global insurance group and our clients. They will work with our existing team of experts, which includes 20 partners and more than 60 lawyers located across the firm’s international network,” he said.
This expansion in Australia is part of HFW’s broader global growth strategy, which has seen the addition of more than 50 partners internationally since early FY23. Recent hires include new teams and partners across major offices in locations such as Melbourne, London, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Riyadh.
