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Wotton Kearney takes financial lines team from Clyde & Co
International law firm Wotton Kearney has moved to bolster its financial lines and ESG offerings with a partner and his team from global rival Clyde & Co, who will be based in Sydney.
Jerome Doraisamy
Partner Jacques Jacobs has taken his team of six (all pictured) from Clyde & Co to Wotton Kearney, which the latter said brings “heavyweight credentials” in the warranty and indemnity insurance space, as it looks to strengthen its market standing in financial lines.
Jacobs had served at Clyde & Co for nearly four years, before which he was a partner at fellow global firms Norton Rose Fulbright and DLA Piper. He served as a solicitor at Wotton Kearney two decades ago, thus marking his return to the international firm.
Joining him at WK are special counsel James Read, associate Rachelle Moran, solicitor Aleks Thwaite-Wright, graduate Zoe Janssen, and legal administrative assistants Tess McKinnel and Caitlin Gibbs.
The news follows the firm’s hiring of a special counsel from Baker McKenzie in late August and its promotion of 33, including four partners, in June.
The firm also opened its 10th office in Singapore in June, following the addition of a health partner from BigLaw rival Lander & Rogers in October and a new special counsel and senior associate within the firm’s cyber and technology advisory practice in November.
As previously reported by Lawyers Weekly, the firm’s revenue grew by 71.6 per cent from FY2019–20 to FY2022–23. To achieve this growth, the firm focuses on specific areas where its clients demand services, chief executive partner David Kearney said on The Lawyers Weekly Show recently.
Speaking about the appointments, WK head of financial lines Andrew Moore said: “Jacques and his team are a fantastic fit for Wotton Kearney. His expertise in ESG and other emerging risks will be a huge asset to our clients and our growing team.”
Jacobs said: “This is an exciting time to rejoin Wotton Kearney.
“The firm’s commitment to growth and innovation aligns perfectly with our expertise and ambitions. We look forward to contributing to the firm’s continued success.”
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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