Firm makes appointment amid China success

HopgoodGanim has appointed a special counsel in Perth, at the same time as the firm has seen benefits from its Shanghai presence including an instruction from Landbridge Group on its WestSide bid

HopgoodGanim has appointed a special counsel in Perth, at the same time as the firm has seen benefits flowing from its presence in Shanghai.

The firm has appointed public sector-focused Karen Browne as a special counsel, joining a team that provides planning, development and public sector advice to clients in Western Australia.

Browne was formerly an in-house lawyer at local government authority City of Wanneroo, and has experience advising the Public Trustee and working for other law firms in WA.

The appointment adds to the four-partner, 15-lawyer contingent the firm now has in WA, which primarily joined as part of Queensland-based HopgoodGanim's merger with Q Legal in late 2012.

In February, HopgoodGanim tapped Allion Legal for further partnership depth in the energy and resources sector in Perth, appointing Simon Panegyres as a partner.

The news comes amid success for the firm in winning more China-sourced business, having recently been engaged by Chinese company Landbridge Group on its $160m bid for WestSide.

The firm appointed senior China consultant Michael Wadley last year in a move the firm said would enhance its existing cooperation agreements with local firms Dacheng Law Offices and Zhejiang T&C.

"I think the presence in Shanghai is giving us more traction over in China," said Brisbane-based corporate partner Nicole Radice. "We had contacts and connections prior to that, but having a person on the ground is really helping us."

HopgoodGanim's Chinese and Chinese-owned clients include Norton Gold fields Limited/Zijin Mining Group, SinoCoal Resources Pty Ltd, and Bank of China.

 

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