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HFW takes team from Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan
Global law firm HFW has continued its growth in Australia with the addition of a disputes team from US firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, led by the former state solicitor for Western Australia.
Lauren Croft
HFW has continued to expand its fast-growing Australian practice with the hire of a disputes team in Perth led by senior partner Paul D Evans, the former Western Australian state solicitor, who joins alongside special counsel Peter Sadler, senior associate Monika Mečević, and consultant Dr Elise Bant.
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Mr Sadler, Mr Evans and Ms Mečević all join from US law firm Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, where Mr Evans was the founding partner of its Perth office. Dr Bant is currently a professor of private law and commercial regulation at the University of Western Australia and a professorial fellow at the University of Melbourne and has previously worked alongside Mr Evans in private practice.
Mr Evans has more than 35 years of experience handling complex commercial litigation, with a focus on disputes relating to corporate governance, transactions and takeovers, and competition and economic law, and previously spent almost 25 years as a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills.
He also spent more than five years as a state solicitor for Western Australia, where he led a team of more than 200.
“There’s a real buzz around HFW in Australia at the moment – the firm is clearly in growth mode and has several outstanding lawyers who are recognised leaders in their areas. It is an exciting environment to be joining,” he said.
“HFW has a really interesting mix of genuine sector expertise particularly relevant to the resources industry in WA and a truly integrated global litigation offering. I am looking forward to working with the partners in Australia and the firm’s disputes teams globally to maximise the benefits presented by the firm’s international footprint.”
HFW has now added eight new partners in Australia since 2020 across front-end construction, disputes, workplace relations, construction and energy transition. The firm has more than 100 lawyers – including 23 partners – across its offices in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Gavin Vallely, HFW Australia managing partner, said that Australia is the firm’s third-largest market globally, after London and Hong Kong.
“The development of our Perth office and disputes offering are key elements of our growth strategy in Australia. Paul is widely recognised as being one of Australia’s leading litigators and brings a wealth of experience in commercial disputes, as well as in energy and resources and construction, which are a core industry sectors for HFW globally,” he said.
“HFW has expanded significantly in Australia over the last 12 months, and we will continue to actively pursue opportunities across our industry sectors and complementary service areas to implement our ambitious growth plans.”
