International law firm Wotton Kearney has expanded into non-legal advisory services and has appointed a cyber, data, and tech specialist to head up its new advisory offering.
Wotton Kearney has launched its advisory wing as client demand grows for proactive risk, cyber and regulatory guidance, with the tech subdivision to be helmed by senior cyber security leader Matt O’Keefe.
According to the firm, WK Advisory will build its cyber, data and technology (CDT) advisory practice to help organisations anticipate, prepare for, and respond to risks in cyber security, privacy, regulation, and operational resilience.
O’Keefe said: “Organisations are no longer asking whether a cyber incident will occur, but when.”
He brings over 25 years of advisory experience for boards and executive teams internationally on cyber risk, tech governance, and digital strategy. The Melbourne-based specialist leaves KPMG after more than 29 years, where he was a partner, ASPAC cyber leader and member of its global cyber leadership team.
He remains director at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
Working closely with former Deloitte cyber specialist Josh Simonis, the pair will lead WK’s cyber risk mitigation, targeting the entire cycle through a comprehensive data and tech practice.
WK chief executive partner David Kearney said that the firm’s new model reflects a growing overlap between legal services and advisory capability in the digital age, highlighting evolving threat landscapes and a greater need for regulation.
He said: “Clients are facing increasingly complex risk environments, particularly in cyber, data and regulatory compliance. WK Advisory enables us to support clients earlier in the risk life cycle and provide a genuine end-to-end service.”
Kearney added the new practice “is the first step in our advisory business expansion, and there will be further advisory pillar announcements to the benefit of our clients as business risks continue to expand.”
“Having grown the practice at KPMG over the past 25 years to more than 1,500 people in 12 countries, I’m looking forward to taking advantage of the opportunities available in such a dynamic environment,” O'Keefe said.
Amelia is a Professional Services Journalist with Momentum Media, covering Lawyers Weekly, HR Leader, Accountants Daily and Accounting Times. She has a background in technical copy and arts and culture journalism, and enjoys screenwriting in her spare time.
