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Wotton + Kearney launches aviation practice with Clyde & Co special counsel
International law firm Wotton + Kearney has continued its expansion, unveiling a new aviation practice with a special counsel who has come across from global rival Clyde & Co.
Jerome Doraisamy
Special counsel James Cooper (pictured) has joined W+K, expanding the international firm’s existing marine and transport practice, which spans shipping, road, rail, logistics, mining, and trading commodities.
He also, W+K went on, has litigation experience across airline major losses, leasing disputes, general aviation, and personal injury, hull, cargo, and baggage claims.
He will be based in the firm’s Melbourne office and has joined from Clyde & Co, where he spent over a decade in that firm’s aviation, maritime, and trade practice.
The news follows a period of significant growth for W+K.
Most recently, and as reported by Lawyers Weekly, it is set to open its 10th office in Singapore with two partners from global rival Kennedys, as the BigLaw player sets its sights on the south-east Asian city-state as a global insurance hub.
Just before Christmas, W+K promoted 34 lawyers to more senior positions, including three to partner, following the 34 it elevated (including four to partner) in June of last year.
Recently, the firm also added a health partner from BigLaw rival Lander & Rogers in October and hired a new special counsel and senior associate for its cyber and technology advisory practice in November.
Speaking about the hire, W+K head of property, energy, and infrastructure Adam Chylek said: “James brings a unique skill set to the firm and is an exciting addition to our existing transport practice.
“He has a wealth of experience across the sector and is highly regarded in Australia and New Zealand and across the Asia-Pacific and London markets.”
Cooper added: “I’m really excited to have joined Wotton + Kearney, where my specialised aviation practice fits neatly alongside the firm’s insurance and risk focus.
“I’m looking forward to working with the firm to grow the regional aviation practice.”
W+K currently has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. Since its foundation in 2002, it has grown to a 76-strong partnership with over 360 lawyers across its offices.
The firm’s revenue, it said in a statement, has grown by 71.6 per cent from FY20 to FY23.
Jerome Doraisamy
Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.
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