With the benefit of a “strong” international platform at its back, the looming new normal is shaping up to be a hugely exciting time for HSF, said its new chair and senior partner, Rebecca Maslen-Stannage (pictured).

Recently elected to the roles, Ms Maslen-Stannage – the first woman and first Australian to lead the firm as such – said HSF is currently considering how it will “refresh” its strategy as it looks forward, just as many of its clients are doing.

On a personal level, she is thrilled to help lead the firm through this next phase and collaborate with staff on all levels, from chief executive Justin D'Agostino through to fee earners and business services professionals.

Moreover, she added, she is proud to be the first female partner in the roles of chair and senior partner at HSF, but noted that she is “delighted that many other women will undoubtedly follow”.

What comes next

In assuming her new roles, Ms Maslen-Stannage is keen to see HSF leverage its aforementioned international platform for the sake of its clients globally, and at a local level, continue to attract top talent.

“We have found new ways of connecting with one another during the pandemic and I would love us to take that to the next level in our engagement with clients and with our own team. We have made great strides with tech and digital law initiatives and will be looking to challenge ourselves further on this,” she said.

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Such connection will be critical, she stressed, given that many firm clients have suffered significant effects from COVID-19, and it is incumbent upon HSF to find solutions to those challenges.

“Some of the relentless regulatory pressure on clients ironically lightened during the pandemic, as regulators realised it would be counterproductive to impose further pressure on businesses which had enough challenges on their plate. Now, some of those pressures are returning so, again, it’s helping support those clients with solutions,” Ms Maslen-Stannage advised.

Simultaneously, she mused, there are “real opportunities” on the horizon for the firm, with HSF staff “adjusting well” to the new 60 per cent office working rule, and subsequent accompanying autonomy, that was implemented in September of last year.

“The pandemic showed us new ways to connect – but we already had the technical capability for video calls for example, we just had not yet learnt to embrace it. So now we are asking more broadly how else can we improve on what we do, what are the other things we are capable of that would improve the service we deliver to clients and how our people enjoy their work,” she said.

Personal duty

Ms Maslen-Stannage also has a strong sense of her own responsibilities moving forward, in what remains a precarious period for the market.

In a nutshell, that duty, she said, is to “oversee a happy firm of engaged, talented people who are focused on delivering great service and solutions for our clients”.

“The shape of exactly what that involves can change in turbulent times – and as a leader it is critical to be empathetic to the stresses people are under in times of uncertainty – but the fundamental principle remains,” she espoused.

Ms Maslen-Stannage also noted how pleasing it was to see how proud her husband and children were as she was elected to her new roles – although, such familial pride has come with a caveat.

“They have made it clear they see this seniority as limited to my work, though, and I should not expect to be cut any slack at home!” she said.