“We are delighted to welcome David O’Farrell to strengthen our dispute resolution practice as we work with our clients to navigate these uncertain times,” Reece Walker, chair of partners at McCullough Robertson said.

“David’s experience and expertise [complement] our existing offering and will help ensure that, as these skills become more in demand as the global economic situation shifts, we are [well placed] to continue providing the highest quality advice.”

Mr O’Farrell joins McCullough Robertson from national law firm HWL Ebsworth Lawyers (HWL) where he was a partner for over five years.

Prior to his role at HWL, David was a partner at MinterEllison in Brisbane and spent much of his earlier career at Blake Dawson (now Ashurst) in Sydney.

“This is a fantastic appointment for the [firm] and coincides with the predicted lift in demand for this skillset,” partner and head of litigation Guy Humble said.

“We believe that David’s background, and the depth of insight he and his team brings, will be of great value to our clients and we look forward to introducing David to them.”

Mr O’Farrell has over 25 years’ experience as a litigator with a focus on financial and regulatory disputes with particular expertise in reconstruction and insolvency.

VIEW ALL

He is a fellow of the Australian Reconstruction Insolvency & Reconstruction Turnaround Association (ARITA) and has been longstanding committee member and former vice-chairman of the ARITA Queensland state committee.

The firm said Mr O’Farrell brings extensive experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters and has represented a wide variety of stakeholders in distressed financial circumstances including secured financiers, debt and equity participants, directors, insolvency practitioners and regulators.

He has been involved in several of Australia’s most complex insolvencies and restructures (both public and private) over the past two decades.

Mr O’Farrell also brings a great deal of expertise acting for the Queensland state government which supports the firm’s recent appointment to the Queensland State Government Legal Panel.

“The opportunity to develop my practice [among] one of the strongest brands within Queensland and at a firm with significant national growth is very appealing,” Mr O’Farrell said on his move,” he said.

“I have no doubt McCullough Robertson will offer the right culture and opportunities as the market continues to evolve.”

The appointment of Mr O’Farrell is effective 1 July 2020. He will be based in the Brisbane office.