Manchester-headquartered DWF announces ‘next strategic phase of growth’ in Australia

International law firm DWF is growing its Australian arm.

The Manchester-headquartered company made eight senior hires and opened a new office in Newcastle, New South Wales.

It is DWF’s fourth base in Australia, following openings last year in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The firm’s wider Asia Pacific presence includes an office in Singapore, also launched in 2017 with a four-lawyer team from competitor Eversheds Sutherland.

Corporate lawyer Mark Hickey has joined DWF for the newly created role of chairman for Asia Pac.

Formerly chairman of Australian national law firm Sparke Helmore, Mark will head up development of the Newcastle office.

Also appointed are corporate partners David Reid (Newcastle) and Vi-Ky Lam (Sydney); corporate director Jason Lambeth (Sydney); banking and finance partners Ben Burney (Sydney) and Adam Fuller (Sydney); safety and industrials relations lawyer Matt Smith (Brisbane); and restructuring and insolvency partner Kirsten Farmer (Sydney).

Andrew Leaitherland, CEO and managing partner at DWF, said: “Australia is an important market and a key growth area for us and while it is no doubt a competitive landscape, there is a real opportunity to do things differently and deliver more value for clients.

“Since launching in Australia just last year we have made significant progress in further defining and expanding our offering and, after an initial bedding-in period, we are now focused on our next strategic phase of growth.”

Managing partner of DWF Australia Jamie McPherson commented: “DWF continues to be a disruptor in both the Australian and wider international legal market.

“As a very progressive and forward-thinking business, and with an established, wider international platform, high-profile client base and innovative approach to technology and service delivery, the appointment of these talented partners is the first of a number of significant steps to alter the Australian legal landscape.”