Partner slips through Clutz’s clutches
Clayton Utz M&A partner Heath Lewis has defected to King & Wood Mallesons.
Lewis joined Clutz’s Perth office in 2007, after spending four years working for magic circle firm Slaughter and May in London.
“Lewis has established an outstanding reputation and is highly regarded for his technical capability and commercial judgement,” said KWM’s managing partner for M&A and tax, Tim Bednall.
Lewis is the fifth new partner to join the Perth office in the last 18 months.
“Perth remains a crucial market for our firm and we are continuing to invest in building the right capability for our clients here,” said partner-in-charge of the Perth office, John Naughton.
This week, Lawyers Weekly exclusively reported the appointment of former Allens practice head Jamie Wells to KWM’s Brisbane office.
Clutz, meanwhile, recently recruited two senior real estate lawyers from Herbert Smith Freehills and Minter Ellison. Jennifer Wyborn also joined the firm’s Canberra practice in October, leaving her former position as partner at Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers.
In September, Sydney-based IT partner Ken Saurajen left Gilbert + Tobin to take up a partner position at Clutz. In that same week, however, the firm lost M&A partner Stephen Moulton to Gadens in Melbourne.
Clutz made headlines early last month when it shed up to 40 staff across the Melbourne and Sydney offices.