Avendra Singh joined as a partner in the firm’s projects and construction practice from Squire Patton Boggs earlier last week. 

Richard Graham will join the firm’s corporate M&A group from Clifford Chance and is due to start in early May.

Johnson Winter & Slattery managing partner Peter Slattery said the firm is highly focused on strengthening its capabilities and platform in the market.

“We are increasingly seeing clients looking to work with independent firms that offer a full-service practice,” he said. 

“Because of the strength of our platform, quality of our people and ability to deliver cost-effective commercial outcomes, more clients are turning to us for their most complex legal matters.”

Mr Singh is a leading construction and infrastructure lawyer, with a multijurisdictional, contentious and non-contentious practice that has covered urban renewal, residential and commercial property, public utilities, public infrastructure whilst representing major developers, public and private owners, design consultants, project managers, contractors and subcontractors.

Mr Singh’s recent matters include advising the Kingdom of Spain in two enforcement proceedings concerning Investment Convention ICSID arbitrations.

Furthermore, he advised the National Roads, Bridges and Jetties in a major $100 million-plus dispute with an international engineering company regarding failures in the standards of professional service provided in the management of the national road network. 

VIEW ALL

“Johnson Winter & Slattery has been going from strength to strength and is highly focused on growing its position in the market,” Mr Singh said. 

“I’m looking forward to working with the team to strengthen the firm’s construction and engineering offering and helping the firm expand into new areas.” 

Mr Graham is a transactional M&A lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience working across a range of industries, including energy and resources, IT, telecommunications, hospitality, healthcare, aged care and retirement living. 

Mr Graham has worked extensively with Australian and multinational companies, sovereign wealth funds and financial investors and over his career, he has also worked with large family offices and government.

Mr Graham experience includes working with clients such as AXA Investment Managers, Fujitsu, Mitsui, VINCI Airports and CBRE Global Investors. 

Recent cases include advising Mondelez on the $460 million sale of its Australia and New Zealand grocery business (including Vegemite) to Bega Cheese.

Mr Graham also advised Lend Lease Primelife on the restructure of its management rights over 12 retirement villages owned by Australian Property Custodian Holdings Limited (Prime Trust) arising as a result of the insolvency of APCH, including various village acquisitions.

“Johnson Winter Slattery is a growing firm with a bright future,” Mr Graham said. 

“During a period when the legal industry in Australia has undergone significant transformation, JWS has carved out its place in the industry as a ‘go-to’ firm for clients undertaking large and complex transactions – both domestic and cross-border – as well as for clients needing assistance with complicated regulatory matters. 

“At the core of this success – and the attraction for me – is the firm’s genuinely full-service and national platform, delivered by recognised quality practitioners at all levels. The firm is well positioned to capitalise on opportunities in the future and I am excited to be part of that future from May this year.”

Mr Slattery said these strategic lateral hires are set to strengthen JWS’ capabilities. 

“This has included appointing five new partners already this year, strengthening our expertise across mergers and acquisitions, projects, energy and resources, and restructuring and insolvency,” Mr Slattery said. 

This news follows closely on the heels of the firm’s recent appointments of Peter Smith, Bruce Adkins and Stuart Clague in Brisbane earlier this quarter.