Login
Meridian Lawyers adds principal, special counsel from HWL Ebsworth
National law firm Meridian Lawyers had bolstered its team in Perth with the appointment of a partner (now principal) and a special counsel from BigLaw rival HWL Ebsworth.
Jerome Doraisamy
Meridian – which has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle, Brisbane and Perth – has expanded its Western Australia-based insurance team with the appointment of Keith Thomas as a principal and Marianne Rivett as a special counsel (both pictured).
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Mr Thomas, who was a partner at HWL Ebsworth for almost nine years, brings over 30 years of experience in litigation. His insurance practice is focused on professional indemnity, directors’ and officers’ liability, management liability, public liability, life insurance and other personal lines regulatory matters and property claims.
Mr Rivett has also come across from HWL, where she was a special counsel for nearly 18 months. She has more than 15 years of legal experience in the insurance industry in Australia and the UK, including time spent at the bar in the UK.
Speaking about the two appointments, Meridian managing director Paul Baker said that both Mr Thomas and Ms Rivett bring “deep market experience” to the firm.
“I am delighted to welcome Keith and Marianne to Meridian. Their exemplary track record and depth of experience complements that of our existing team and the offering we provide to our domestic and international insurer clients,” he said.
“The addition of Keith and Marianne to our team further assists the growth and expansion objectives of the Perth office, and more broadly the focus on recruiting high calibre lawyers to further expand the insurance service offering to our clients.”
Perth managing principal Mark Birbeck added: “Keith and Marianne are well respected in the insurance market and we look forward to welcoming them to the team.
“Their expertise complements our existing offer to clients in professional indemnity and general insurance claims and further strengthens our ability to be proactive in assisting clients to identify and manage their risk issues.”
Mr Thomas said: “The high regard in which Meridian is held in the insurance sector for its excellence in client service, and the collaborative nature of its culture, provides me with a strong foundation to further grow and diversify my practice. I look forward to working alongside Mark and Shannon in Perth and being a part of Meridian’s national insurance team.”
And Ms Rivett noted: “This is an exciting opportunity to join Meridian’s national insurance practice with its impressive track record and experience in the insurance industry. Joining the Perth team will enable me to further develop and broaden my practice and tap into the expertise across the business to enhance the offering to my clients.
“I am also looking forward to being a part of a dedicated national team and working alongside Keith, Mark and Shannon and the other members of the Perth office.”
