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Global law firm Clyde & Co has bolstered its employment, safety, and regulatory capabilities, luring a senior employment partner from rival BigLaw firm Gilchrist Connell to lead its Australian practice.
Sarah Wood (pictured) joined Clyde & Co as partner and employment practice leader on 29 June 2026, taking the helm of the firm’s Australian employment practice from its Sydney office.
In a statement, the national law firm said that Wood’s appointment marks a significant step in the growth of its Australian employment practice, establishing dedicated leadership while expanding the firm’s employment, safety, and regulatory capabilities across the country.
As part of the appointment, Clyde & Co confirmed Wood will be supported by a newly recruited team, further strengthening its employment, safety, and regulatory offerings.
Wood arrives from Gilchrist Connell, where she spent seven years and rose to principal, a position she held for more than five years.
She brings extensive experience advising corporates and insurers across the full spectrum of employment, industrial relations, and workplace safety matters, with a practice spanning both advisory work and complex litigation.
Rebecca Kelly, Clyde & Co’s Australia managing partner, Brisbane, said that Wood’s arrival strengthens the firm’s ability to help clients navigate growing workplace risks and respond to increasingly complex employment disputes and investigations.
“Our clients are increasingly seeking proactive employment advice to manage rising workplace risk, alongside support on disputes when they arise,” Kelly said.
“Sarah’s appointment and the growth of our employment team expand our firm’s advisory capability and strengthen its ability to respond to complex employment claims and investigations, positioning the team to capitalise on growing demand from large corporates, insurers, and multinational organisations.”
As employment practice leader, Wood will work closely with Clyde & Co’s global employment, immigration, and pensions teams across Asia, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States, supporting multinational and domestic clients on cross-border employment matters.
Speaking about her new role, Wood shared that she was looking forward to joining the firm’s global platform and helping clients navigate an increasingly complex workplace regulatory landscape.
“I am delighted to join a global firm with a significant offering across six continents and look forward to helping clients navigate the complex workplace regulatory environment marked by increased litigation exposure and enforcement activity,” Wood said.
