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Clifford Chance adds 3 partners from BigLaw rivals
Global law firm Clifford Chance has bolstered its Australia-based partnership, hiring two energy and resources partners from Clayton Utz and a class actions partner from Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
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Partners Brett Cohen and Liz Humphry have joined Clifford Chance from BigLaw rival Clayton Utz.
The pair will join the global firm’s corporate practice and be based in Perth.
Speaking about the hires, Clifford Chance Asia-Pacific head of corporate Andrew Crook said: “Brett and Liz will significantly bolster our ability to support clients in the energy and resources sector, both within Australia and on a global scale.
“Their specialised knowledge will be crucial as they collaborate with our global corporate, projects, and litigation and dispute resolution teams to deliver top-tier service to our clients. I am really looking forward to working alongside them.”
The firm’s global co-head of energy and resources, Nadia Kalic, said: “Australia is a major producer of critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements that are key to facilitating the global energy transition. Brett’s and Liz’s deep sector expertise will further enhance our local and global offering to clients involved in the energy and resources sector.”
Elsewhere, the firm has appointed Brad Woodhouse from national firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth as a partner and as head of its Australia-based class actions operations.
He joins the firm’s global litigation and dispute resolution practice and will be based in Sydney.
The firm’s Australian managing partner, Mark Currell, said: “Brad’s class actions and commercial litigation experience adds to our busy Australian L&DR offering. We are delighted that Brad has decided to join our growing team, including to lead the class actions practice.
“In addition to Brad’s broader commercial litigation and class action experience, the work Brad has done in defending a number of employment class actions and test cases will complement our growing employment law offering, while his expertise in relation to property-related disputes will add significantly to the Australian real estate practice.”
Cameron Hassall, who heads up the firm’s litigation and dispute resolution practice, said: “Brad’s reputation as a measured, client-focused and outcome-oriented disputes partner is immediately apparent.
“Our global and Australian clients, and our team, will benefit from Brad’s stewardship of the class actions practice, as well as his 20-plus years of experience of commercial litigation in product liability, employment, professional services, and property-related disputes.”
The news follows the firm’s addition of an employment partner from DLA Piper in May, as well as its naming of a new Australian managing partner in April.
Jerome Doraisamy is the managing editor of Lawyers Weekly and HR Leader. He is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in New South Wales, and a board director of the Minds Count Foundation.
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