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Ashurst appoints 2 partners from BigLaw rivals for Perth office
After adding 17 Australians to its partnership in April, global law firm Ashurst has continued to add partners Down Under, with two partners, from HWL Ebsworth and Johnson Winter Slattery, joining its operations in Perth.
Jerome Doraisamy
Richard Johnson and Kirsten Scott (both pictured) have joined Ashurst in Perth, expanding the global firm’s operations out west. The pair will sit in the restructuring and special situations group and employment team, respectively.
Johnson joins from HWL Ebsworth, where he has served as a partner for 10 years, including as the head of its restructuring and insolvency practice. Prior to this, he was a special counsel at MinterEllison.
Scott is coming across from JWS, where she has been a partner for nearly three years and, prior to that, a special counsel. She has also worked at Clifford Chance for more than a decade.
The news follows the firm’s naming of 17 Australian lawyers to its partnership in late April.
It also follows Ashurst’s taking of a commercial litigation partner from Clifford Chance in late March, its establishment of a new advisory offering with four new partner hires in mid-March, and its appointment of a senior associate from King & Wood Mallesons as a new partner in its real estate team in February.
Ashurst head of Australian region Lea Constantine said: “We are delighted to welcome Richard and Kirsten to Ashurst.
“Their impressive track records and deep industry knowledge in restructuring and investigations align perfectly with our commitment to providing exceptional legal services to the energy, resources, and mining sectors.
“Richard’s proficiency in restructuring and insolvency and Kirsten’s expertise in regulatory enforcement and corporate investigations will undoubtedly enhance our service offerings as we continue to provide top-tier legal services to our clients.”
Johnson said: “Ashurst’s reputation as a leading global firm with a strong record in the restructuring and insolvency space in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region will support me to provide a broad range of solutions to clients.
“I am eager to work with the talented team at Ashurst and contribute to the firm’s continued success.”
Scott said: “I am pleased to join a firm of Ashurst’s calibre and global reach.
“The opportunity to work alongside some of the industry’s best legal minds and contribute to significant, complex matters is incredibly exciting.
“I look forward to applying my expertise and experience for the benefit of the firm’s clients and contributing to growing Ashurst’s strong reputation in investigations.”
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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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