Global heavyweight buffs up ranks in Australia

After some partner defections as its Australian merger nears, the firm is bringing in the big guns

Global heavyweight buffs up ranks in Australia
Just over a week before its Australian merger goes live, Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) is strengthening its ranks in Australia.

Vincent Dwyer, who heads NRF’s energy practice in the Asia-Pacific, will be returning to Australia after three years based in Singapore. NRF has also promoted Belinda Harvey and Chris Mitchell to partner from special counsel. Dwyer returns to the country in January, while Harvey’s and Mitchell’s promotions take effect on 1 December, when the firm’s merger with Henry Davis York goes live.

Dwyer, who previously led the firm’s Australian corporate practice, will continue his focus on M&A and the energy and infrastructure sectors, particularly on cross-border investment and major project development, especially in the power and renewables industries. He will work closely with Simon Currie, the firm’s global energy head, who is based in Sydney.

Harvey acts for Australian and international clients in all aspects of competition and consumer law and access regulation, including strategic and risk advisory work, regulatory investigations and compliance. She is also experience in cross-border M&A and regulatory clearance, particularly on matters with multi-jurisdictional aspects.

Mitchell is a specialist in regulated and unregulated M&A transactions in various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, and oil and gas. He also regularly advises on equity capital markets transactions and all aspects of corporate governance and securities law issues.

The appointment follows HDY’s massive partner promotion round that included Vittorio Casamento, Alice Chen, Felicity Healy, James Higby, Stephen Iu, and Anneliese Korber. It also comes after several partners left both NRF and HDY for rivals.

“As we draw closer to our December 1 go live date for our combination with HDY, it is pleasing to see the results of our sustained and deliberate plan to renew our partnership in Australia, with a particular focus on those who have established industry networks and cross-border experience,” Wayne Spanner, NRF’s managing partner in Australia, said in a statement.

“One aspect of that plan has been to broaden and strengthen our national corporate and M&A practice, which we will do with the welcome return of Vincent Dwyer,” he said. “Belinda Harvey also has a strong track record advising in many of our key industries in high stakes competition and regulatory matters. Belinda and Chris, and the other recent promotions from both firms, demonstrate how our combination is allowing us to bring through a diverse mix of rising stars who will be the stewards of our future business for many years to come.”

Spanner said the firm is also strengthening its national corporate M&A practice with the recent appointments of Martin Irwin, Jasmine Sprange, Shamim Razavi, and Natalie Lonergan in Sydney; and Adam Edelman in Perth. Razavi will join the firm from its Indonesian associate firm, TNB & Partners.

In October, the firm appointed new partners Phillipa Beck, Daniel Vicano, and Ann Donohue. NRF also recently promoted Raymond Lou to partner in Sydney.


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