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HFW grows insurance practice in Sydney
Global sector-focused law firm HFW has bolstered its insurance group in Sydney with two special counsel, who join from Dentons and Meridian Lawyers.
Lauren Croft
HFW has bolstered its global insurance group and continued the significant growth of its Australia business with the addition of two special counsel in Sydney.
Dominic Russell joined HFW from Dentons in September 2024, and Phillip Thomas joined from Meridian Lawyers in late October 2024.
Russell specialises in complex commercial and employment litigation and investigations, enforcement of contractual restraints of trade, and white-collar crime and misconduct investigations. He has acted in proceedings in all Australian jurisdictions, including proceedings in the NSW Court of Appeal, the full court of the Federal Court, and the High Court of Australia.
Thomas has more than 10 years of experience advising clients in the insurance industry in relation to professional indemnity, building and construction, property damage, public liability, and policy coverage. And has expertise in litigation and arbitration and has acted for local and overseas underwriters, including Lloyd’s syndicates in the London insurance market, as well as numerous large global and Australian insurers and private clients.
The news follows the hiring of a partner from Clifford Chance in October, the global firm’s addition of a team from BigLaw rival Johnson Winter Slattery in late August, as well as its “record” 12 months in the Australian market, as reported in July, and having added 12 new partners across the country since the beginning of FY2023–24.
The firm has seen substantial growth Down Under in recent times. In March, the firm promoted four new partners and one new legal director. This came after the hiring of an environment and climate change partner from Baker McKenzie in December, the addition of a partner from Clyde & Co, as well as a team of seven, in January this year after the firm nabbed five partners from fellow BigLaw practice MinterEllison, as well as a team of 15 lawyers in late November last year as it moved to bolster its regional offerings in corporate, projects, regulatory, and restructuring.
HFW now has 34 partners and more than 112 lawyers across its offices in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney. Across the globe, HFW has added more than 50 new partners since the beginning of FY2022–23.
HFW’s Australian managing partner, Gavin Vallely, said: “I am pleased to welcome Dominic and Phillip to HFW. Their appointments follow a series of hires we have made in Australia in the last 18 months as we continue to invest in our business and implement our growth plan.”
Global head of insurance and reinsurance Christopher Foster also welcomed the two new special counsel to the firm.
“As experienced practitioners with an impressive track record in litigation, Dominic and Phillip will make a valuable contribution to our global insurance group and our clients,” he said.
“They will work with our existing team of experts, which includes 20 partners and more than 60 lawyers located across the firm’s international network.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
