It will offer both litigious and transactional services, including niche expertise in defamation, oil and renewables, and childcare services – and intends to explore new service offerings as well through its recruitment.

In comments provided to Lawyers Weekly, the firm said that despite a fresh rebrand, the practice has a legacy dating back over 60 years, having been first established as Maunder & Jeffrey Solicitors. For the last decade, it has traded as Rostron Carlyle Rojas Lawyers, Sydney. Three years ago, it acquired the firm Goldsmiths Lawyers, expanding into the area of defamation law.

“Under the most recent iteration, HFK Lawyers launches from a secure foundation with a rich history of servicing clients within NSW and across Australia,” the firm submitted.

Recently, HFK’s partners – James Hatzopoulos, Michael Finch, and Klevis Kllogjri – acquired the practice and consequently rebranded, bringing with them the client base, over 20 staff members (including six lawyers), and a head office in the Sydney CBD.

The lawyers who have come across with the partners are: special counsel Angelo Crones (who was a partner of Maunder and Jeffrey), senior associates Jim Koukouras and Lee Allen, associates Jade Tsang and Luke Hyland (who was formerly a lawyer at RCR), and lawyer Chris Pettener.

The trio of partners are, they noted, “excited to continue to elevate the practice to new heights, having been heavily involved in the growth and success of the business over the last decade”.

Further, the newly-revamped practice has appointed special counsel George Mavrakis, who the president of the City of Sydney Law Society.

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Speaking about the new practice, Finch said: “I am very proud of our team and the reputation that we have developed over the years for delivering consistent positive results for our clients. Being able to combine that reputation with our own brand, HFK Lawyers, is an exciting step as our team grows and develops.”

Hatzopoulos added: “This rebrand is the Hallmark to a decade’s worth of dedication and determination in the pursuit of excellence and client-focused solutions.”

“That dedication and determination instilled within the partners and staff here at HFK Lawyers is what makes working in this practice every day so enjoyable and fulfilling. Michael, Klevis, and I are humbled by the overwhelming faith and support shown by all our staff and clients, without which none of this would have been possible,” he detailed.

And Kllogjri noted: “I was hired in 2017 by James as a junior lawyer and now we’re Partners in HFK Lawyers together with Michael. I hope my journey serves as a great example for young lawyers as to what can be achieved with the right determination and mentality. We will continue to instil these values into the young lawyers that join our team.”