Login
Ashurst grows risk advisory with 2 new partners
Global law firm Ashurst has added two partners to its risk advisory division in a move to grow the firm’s offerings in cyber security, insurance and prudential licensing.
Lauren Croft
As part of a strategic plan to bolster key areas amid rapid regulatory change and growing client demands, Ashurst has added Rachael Falk and Kathleen Conner as partners in its risk advisory division.
Falk returns to Ashurst after working as a lawyer at the firm (formerly Blake Dawson Waldron) in 1998. She was most recently the chief executive officer of the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, where she played a key role in collaboration between government, industry and research institutions aimed at lifting Australia’s cyber security capability.
She has been at the forefront of the response to recent major cyber security incidents, including leading the independent review of the Australian government’s response to two of the country’s largest cyber incidents, which resulted in the introduction of a raft of legislative changes, including Australia’s new Cyber Security Act.
She is also a former technology and litigation lawyer and spent 15 years in in-house roles, as well as in top-tier firms in Australia and the UK.
“Cyber security is one of the most significant risks that organisations face today and is at the top of the agenda for many corporate boards. The fast pace of technological change, rapidly evolving threats and a complex regulatory landscape mean that businesses need sophisticated and actionable advice to ensure their organisations are resilient and prepared for increased regulatory scrutiny,” she said.
“Ashurst has a renowned cyber security practice which offers clients a compelling combination of legal and risk advice. I am excited to be rejoining Ashurst, where I spent early years of my career, and to help clients as we grow this practice.”
Conner joins the firm from KPMG, where she was a partner in the governance risk and compliance practice and led the licensing team. She has 25 years of experience advising insurance, financial services and gaming businesses in Australia and the UK.
She advises clients on regulatory compliance, risk management, governance, conduct and risk culture and has extensive experience across risk and regulation, within companies including IBM and Deloitte.
“I am thrilled to join Ashurst and the opportunity to help grow the firm’s strong offering to financial services and gaming clients. It makes sense to bring together an integrated view on legal and risk, to not only ensure compliance and respond to regulatory action, but to ensure effective implementation and operation of frameworks and processes,” Conner said.
“Ashurst’s integrated offering provides the perfect platform for me to develop my practice and to support my clients as they face into the evolving regulatory environment.”
The hires come as client demand for integrated legal and risk advice grows and follows the appointment of Tom Lodder to lead Ashurst’s UK Risk Advisory practice. ARA was established in 2020 and now has 23 partners globally (19 in Australia, three in the UK, and one in the Middle East), posting revenue growth close to 50 per cent globally year on year, according to the firm.
Commenting on the new hires, the head of Ashurst Risk Advisory Australia, Philip Hardy, said the appointments were driven by client demand.
“We are delighted to welcome Rachael and Kathleen to Ashurst. As leaders in the fields of cyber security, insurance and prudential licensing, Rachael and Kathleen will add bench strength to Ashurst’s offering to clients,” he said.
“Their arrival is a sign of the consistent growth in client demand for integrated legal, NewLaw and risk advice and an endorsement of the strength of the Ashurst Risk Advisory model.”
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.
