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Hamilton Locke adds 5 to partnership

International firm Hamilton Locke has bolstered its partnership ranks with five new hires, all of whom have come from BigLaw rivals.

user iconJerome Doraisamy 06 February 2025 Big Law
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Hamilton Locke had added five new partners (all pictured) to its ranks as it looks to continue its strategic growth.

Andrea Kennedy has joined the firm’s corporate practice in Melbourne and is – the firm said in a statement – a “respected” adviser to Australian and international clients on all aspects of private M&A across a broad range of sectors, particularly the TMT, digital infrastructure, retail, education, health, and financial services sectors. She joins from Baker McKenzie, where she served for over a decade, including more than nine years as a partner.

James Nicholls will sit in the firm’s corporate team in Perth, having come across from DLA Piper, where he was a partner for four years. He specialises in complex, cross-border and contested public M&A transactions, IPOs, secondary equity fundraising, and advice to boards on corporate governance matters.

James Patto, who previously served as the director of digital, cyber, and technology law at PwC, will sit in Hamilton Locke’s IP and tech practice in Melbourne. He will also, the firm added, hold a dual partner role in Helios Salinger, HPX Group’s dedicated privacy, data, and AI governance business. He brings a background in large-scale technology transactions, advising on complex technology regulations and responding to cyber and data incidents.

Mark Payne will sit in the firm’s tax team in Sydney, bringing “substantial” experience in providing strategic and solution-based tax advice to domestic and multinational companies and private groups across a range of industries. Most recently, he was a partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth for eight and a half years.

Sophie Uhlhorn has joined the litigation and dispute resolution practice in the firm’s Melbourne office, having most recently served as a special counsel at Corrs. She is, Hamilton Locke said, a “highly experienced” lawyer who specialises in complex competition disputes and investigations, commissions and inquiries and commercial disputes.

The news follows the firm’s promotion of 11 professionals to more senior roles in late January across both Hamilton Locke and its sister company Source, the firm’s promotion of 18 lawyers, including two to the partnership, in July of last year, as well as its addition of three partners to its ranks in August.

Speaking about the appointments, HPX Group chief executive and Hamilton Locke managing partner Nick Humphrey said: “Our ambition for our firm and for HPX Group more broadly has always been to attract people who want clear air and opportunities for deep collaboration, to deliver our clients leading cross-functional expertise across legal, risk and compliance.”

“We’re pleased to have Andrea, James, Mark, James and Sophie join our team, with their experience reflecting strategic growth areas for us and where we continue to experience strong demand.”

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. In June 2024, he also assumed the editorship of HR Leader. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.

You can email Jerome at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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