Ms MacKay has come across from fellow BigLaw firm Holding Redlich, where she served as a partner for nearly six years. She started with NRF yesterday (Monday, 5 February).

She has, the global firm said in a statement, acted for both regulators and companies and directors in regulatory investigations and prosecutions in corporation, financial services, and competition matters and has also represented defendants in large class actions, at first instance and on appeal, and has acted for plaintiffs and defendants in breach of contract, negligence, misleading and deceptive conduct, oppression, and breach of director duties cases.

Ms Hastilow most recently served as the managing director (ANZ) and global chief legal and risk officer for First Sentier Investors. She started with the global firm in late January.

She is, NRF continued, a “highly regarded and experienced” practitioner in the financial services industry, with a 25-year career in private practice and more recently in-house at First Sentier Investors (formerly Colonial First State Global Asset Management), where she established the global risk management, legal, insurance, compliance and governance functions and steered many of the firm’s strategies as a member of the global executive committee.

The news follows NRF’s hiring of two partners and a senior associate (who joined the BigLaw firm as a special counsel) from global rival Clyde & Co in August, its appointment of two litigators to its partnership in late July, its promotion of 28 lawyers to more senior roles in the same month, its appointment of an executive counsel from Herbert Smith Freehills as a new real estate partner in October, and its elevation of three women to the firm’s Australian partnership, late last month.

It also follows a string of partner appointments by the global firm since the start of 2023, reported by Lawyers Weekly here, here and here.

Speaking about the two hires, NRF chief executive partner Alison Deitz said: “Kimberley is a dynamic lawyer who has built an impressive portfolio of major dispute matters in which she has acted, particularly in the area of regulatory investigations and enforcement. Her appointment will give added weight to Norton Rose Fulbright’s burgeoning regulatory investigations and disputes practice.”

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“Liz is a rare candidate in the market given the depth of experience she has gained working client-side in financial services and in private practice over such a substantial and high-profile career. Her impressive international experience, and familiarity with global business leadership, legal, regulatory and risk issues, will be hugely valuable to our domestic and overseas clients and the lawyers she will mentor.”

Ms MacKay added: “Norton Rose Fulbright stands out in the market for the depth of its relationships with government and regulators and the sheer scale of its dispute resolution team.

“I look forward to contributing my litigation experience and knowledge of the financial institutions, energy and resources, and telecommunications sectors in particular to the benefit of domestic and global clients.”

Ms Hastilow noted: “The global investment and asset management industry is in a period of significant change and regulatory settings around the world continue to become more complex.

“The need for cross-border investment flows and smart investment solutions, including into new and developing asset classes such as renewables infrastructure and technology and natural assets, continues, despite geopolitical challenges.

“I am thrilled to be joining Norton Rose Fulbright, a global law firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to be able to help our clients navigate the opportunities and challenges in this changing but exciting environment.”