Clayton Utz bolsters five Australian practices with promotions

Two senior lawyers in Sydney and two in Melbourne will be joining the partnership at the start of the new year

By Sol Dolor

Clayton Utz is boosting five different practice groups with its latest partner promotions in Australia.

Amber Agustin, Andrew Fry, Alison Kennedy, Jessica Morath, and Elizabeth Richmond will join the global firm’s partnership at the start of the new year.

In the tax practice in Melbourne, Agustin is known in the industry for her tax disputes work. With a focus on regulatory, investigative, administrative, litigation, and commercial contexts of the tax system, she acts for major multinationals, ASX-listed companies, and privately-held groups. She is also experienced in multi-agency investigations, ATO raids, statutory notices, challenging ATO decisions, R&D tax matters, tax agent disciplinary matters, and tax professional negligence claims. She was promoted from special counsel.

Fry is a member of the firm’s major projects and construction practice in Melbourne. He is an expert in construction and projects, with a particular focus on project delivery options, tender and contract documentation, procurement, and contract administration. He was previously a financial analyst in London and an accountant in Adelaide. He was promoted from special counsel.

Also based in Melbourne is Kennedy, who is a member of the real estate group. She has extensive experience acting for government and private-sector clients on a wide range of property matters, including project development and structuring, joint ventures and development agreements, property acquisitions and disposals, leasing and general property advisory. She was promoted from special counsel.

In Sydney, Morath is the coordinator of the firm’s pro bono practice. Known for her work helping low-income and disadvantaged clients, she is a specialist in victims’ compensation, employment, discrimination, and dispute resolution. She was promoted from special counsel.

Also promoted from special counsel in Sydney was Richmond, who is a member of the firm’s competition practice. She is an expert in competition and consumer protection law, with a wide-ranging practice that includes enforcement and competition litigation and investigations, merger clearances, and ongoing strategic and operational advisory work. She is also focused on multijurisdictional matters, particularly multijurisdictional investigations.