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Moray & Agnew integrates Obst Legal
Moray & Agnew has integrated Obst Legal into its Melbourne branch to boost its indemnity team.
Tony Zhang
From May 2020, principal partner Howard Obst, partner Caroline Dew, senior associate Hilary Stokes, lawyers and support staff will join Moray & Agnew Melbourne’s professional indemnity team.
“For many years our Melbourne office has been arguably one of the fastest-growing firms in Victoria, and we will continue to be so, even in these trying times. We are proud to announce that the Obst Legal Practice is joining us, and bringing some of the best and brightest litigators in the state to Morays”.
Obst Legal, a boutique Melbourne firm, has strong expertise in a number of areas including insurance litigation involving professional indemnity and directors and officers policies.
Mr Obst is an experienced litigation lawyer in Victoria, having been admitted to practice in 1976 and acted almost exclusively in litigious matters since 1980.
Partner Ms Dew’s practice includes public liability, product liability, property claims, recoveries, and policy and indemnity advice.
She also practised in general commercial litigation including contractual disputes, trade practices, shareholder disputes, debt recovery and insolvency.
Mr Papastergiadis said that this highly skilled professional indemnity-focused group adds to the firm’s already significant professional indemnity practice.
“With this team, Moray & Agnew Melbourne will boast one of the largest professional indemnity groups in Victoria and unrivalled depth in this area,” he said.
The integration of the Obst team also provides the firm with further capacity and expertise to deal with the most complex litigated matters, both in professional indemnity and commercial areas according to the firm.
“The forensic litigation skills of the Obst team translates comfortably into the Moray & Agnew property and construction teams, where the firm also enjoys an excellent reputation,” Mr Papastergiadis said.
Mr Obst said that having fielded approaches from many firms over the years, the fit of his team with Moray & Agnew felt “as did Goldilocks – just right – so I am very confident we can add real depth to the already strong litigation practice.”
“Out of all the numerous approaches I have considered, Moray’s outstanding reputation and leadership stood out to me,” Mr Obst said.
“I have found their operational systems to [have] been excellent and the cultural feel of the firm is exceptional. This will be a great home for all of us.”
Anthony Scott, senior partner in the Melbourne professional indemnity team welcomed Obst Legal to the team.
“Howard has vast experience, in particular in defending complex claims against solicitors,” Mr Scott said.
“He is widely recognised as a leader in his field, and as both a talented lawyer and a highly skilled negotiator.”
Geoff Connellan, national managing partner added: “The first-class lawyers from the Obst Legal Practice will not only add to the depth and skill of our insurance and commercial litigation in Melbourne but increase the vast experience and skill of the Moray & Agnew offering nationally.”
“Howard, Caroline and their team share the client-focused expertise of the Moray & Agnew national practice. We are delighted to welcome them to the firm.”
