Ironbridge Legal poaches SC from Norton Rose Fulbright for new partner

First admitted as a solicitor in Hong Kong, before qualifying in NSW and being admitted to the High Court of Australia, she expressed interest in practices “where the work is technically demanding, and the standard of execution is even higher”.

During her time at NRF, Lau developed a practice that spanned financial services regulation, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and risk advisory, among other areas.

She brings experience in advising major energy and infrastructure clients, data storage and processing entities, and global financial institutions regarding Australia’s Security of Critical Infrastructure regime.

Ironbridge Legal also highlighted her distinctive combination of capability in technical regulation, commercial and litigation fluency, and experience conducting civil proceedings.

Founder and managing partner of Ironbridge Legal, Trevor Withane, explained that “Every senior appointment has to sharpen the firm.”

“Candy does that immediately. She brings real authority at the intersection of regulation, governance and disputes, which is exactly where many of the most complex and high-stakes client matters now sit. She adds depth, judgment and serious firepower to our partnership.”

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Lau expressed excitement in joining “a team that is deeply strategic, intensely commercial, and operationally grounded in how it approaches important client matters”.

Chief operating officer Julianne Clark described the appointment as deliberate and specific, stating: “We have spent the last year strengthening the infrastructure of the firm so that exceptional lawyers can do their best work at consistently high levels. Candy’s appointment reflects that approach.”

Blake Shaw, partner at Ironbridge, said: “A distressed situation can become a governance issue, then a regulatory issue, then hard-edged litigation. Candy’s background gives her real authority across that spectrum.

“She brings serious technical depth, commercial judgement, and the kind of composure clients value when the stakes are high.”

Hyugo Hayashi, head of marketing and growth, said: “Candy’s appointment signals where the firm is heading. We’re building a premium specialist firm where senior lawyers stay close to the work, standards remain high, and clients get the sophistication of a major practice with the dedication and precision of an elite expert team.”