Scott Atkins ascends to his new role today
Australia risk advisory head Scott Atkins has been tapped as the next chair of Norton Rose Fulbright’s (NRF) Australia arm.
Atkins is a senior restructuring and insolvency partner based in the firm’s Sydney office. He has extensive experience in the governance, culture and compliance matters affecting both Australian and international companies.
He has handled significant cross-border transactions, including serving as the lead partner on a team that worked together with the Asian Development Bank and the Union Supreme Court of Myanmar in drafting a novel insolvency and restructuring framework for Myanmar which led to Myanmar passing its Insolvency Law in February of this year.
The regional Chambers and Partners 2020 legal rankings have recognised Atkins as the sole “eminent practitioner” of restructuring and insolvency in Australia. He also presides over the Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association.
In addition to acting as risk advisory head, he has served as NRF Australia’s deputy chair. He is on the firm’s global supervisory board as well.
Atkins steps into his new role today.
“Scott’s long and diverse career as a trusted adviser to banks, public and private entities, and insolvency and restructuring practitioners, along with his numerous industry leadership roles, has been a great benefit to our firm and its clients,” Australia managing partner Alison Deitz said. “I look forward to working closely with Scott as we navigate the changes facing our clients and our business, and focus our firm on a successful period ahead both locally and globally.”
She also thanked Atkins’ predecessor, Perth partner Chris McLeod, for his “wise counsel and steady stewardship” of the board during his term.
“I have had the privilege of engaging general counsel and board members through my role as head of risk advisory in Australia, and have seen firsthand the challenges major organisations face in a complex and rapidly changing world,” Atkins said. “As chair of Norton Rose Fulbright in Australia, I will apply the same ‘trusted advisor’ mentality for our leadership team and ensure we are doing everything we can to help our clients and people grow and prosper in the years ahead.”
The firm recently appointed a new global litigation and disputes head following the ascension of Gerry Pecht to global chief executive.
