Global law firm Clyde & Co has announced the hire of three partners from Norton Rose Fulbright.
Marcus O’Brien, Partner and Clyde & Co’s Head of Insurance in Australia, says:
“As the largest insurance law firm in the world, we are now one of the largest in Australia. Attracting partners of this calibre demonstrates the strength of Clyde & Co in this market. Unlike other firms, we have maintained a focus on the Insurance sector to support our clients. Our new team places us as clear market leaders in all areas of insurance across Australia, and provides our clients with an even stronger offering.”
Michael Tooma, Clyde & Co’s Australia Managing Partner, says:
“We have pursued a clear sector-based strategy since joining the Australian market in 2012 with the Insurance industry being a key pillar of that strategy. We are delighted to increase our depth in that industry with the addition of such high profile partners.”
Peter Hirst, Senior Partner of Clyde & Co, says:
“Our Australian practice has grown quickly and established itself as market leaders across the sectors in which we specialise. As one of the world’s leading insurance focused law firms, the hire of this team is a real statement of intent and speaks to our strategy of providing clients in our sectors with a full service offering across the cities, countries and regions in which they operate.”
The new partners will provide decades of accumulated experience to Clyde & Co:
– Nicole Wearne: Nicole acts principally for local and overseas insurers on professional indemnity (financial services and architects & engineers), management liability/ D&O, and class action defence and coverage claims work.
– Ganga Narayanan: Ganga acts for local and overseas insurers and also receives instructions directly from corporate clients in the area of life insurance, general liability and healthcare (including medical negligence and product liability).
– Mark Attard: Mark advises in professional indemnity, construction, property, management liability and general insurance matters as well as policy wording, legislation, risk management, alternative dispute resolution, recoveries and claim management. He defends planners, accountants, insurance intermediaries, recruitment agencies, owner corporation managers, psychologists, travel agents, real estate agents and IT professionals.
The recent hires continue the growth trajectory for Clyde & Co in Australia which was established in Australia in late 2012 and has since grown from four partners, to 32 partners with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. This latest announcement follows the firm’s recent hiring of acclaimed marine lawyer Ernie van Buuren from Norton Rose Fulbright, and the relocation of the firm’s APAC Head of Corporate, Ian Stewart, to Melbourne.
Last year the Sydney office appointed corporate real estate partner Cameron Thomson, cybersecurity partner John Moran, and environmental planning partner Jacinta Studdert (all from Norton Rose Fulbright) demonstrating the cross-sector breadth of the firm.
In 2016 Clyde & Co merged with Lee & Lyons, adding five partners to the practice in Sydney – David Lee, Lucinda Lyons, David Amentas, Michelle Dunne and Christopher Smith.
