Gilbert + Tobin hires financial services partner from Ashurst
National law firm Gilbert + Tobin has moved to “intensify its focus” on financial services regulation, and the changing director and executive accountability regime, with the appointment of a partner from BigLaw rival Ashurst.
Silvana Wood has joined G+T’s financial services solutions team, which covers regulatory compliance, investigations and contentious work. Prior to joining the firm, she was a partner at Ashurst for over two years, has worked in senior legal roles at the Financial Conduct Authority and Travers Smith in the United Kingdom, and as a lawyer at MinterEllison.
It also, G+T went on, coincides with the passage of the Financial Accountability Regime Act (FAR) in Parliament, which introduces heightened accountability measures for prudentially regulated corporations and their most senior and influential individuals.
Ms Wood’s appointment helps position G+T “as the ‘go to’ firm” for this legislation, it proclaimed.
Her arrival at the firm follows the appointment of constitutional law expert Professor Anne Twomey as a consultant in February and the naming of a new chair, chief executive and executive partner for the firm in November of last year.
Speaking about the appointment, G+T managing partner Danny Gilbert said: “We are delighted to welcome Silvana to the firm as a renowned expert in Financial Services, and particularly FAR.
“Her experience will make a valuable contribution to the full spectrum of financial services advice we offer our clients.”

Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
You can email Jerome at: