Herbert Smith Freehills promotes 27 to partnership

Herbert Smith Freehills today announced the promotion of 27 new partners globally – another strong promotion round for the firm.

Many of the new partners focus on areas that are aligned to the firm's vision and which the firm has prioritised under its Ambition strategy – private capital, energy transition and ESG. The appointments reflect the firm's ongoing commitment to invest in its international network, its leading practices and its sector expertise to deliver growth and success.

The new partners are based across the firm’s global network of offices in Asia, Australia, EMEA, the UK and the US.

CEO Justin D’Agostino said:

"We are incredibly pleased to recognise the breadth of talent we have in our leading practices across the network. Our new partners have the skills, expertise and outlook to ensure we continue to drive our Ambition strategy and our growth areas of private capital, energy transition and ESG. They are integral to the future leadership and success of the firm."

Chair and Senior Partner Rebecca Maslen-Stannage added:

"Providing opportunities for our talented team members to progress is a key priority for our firm. Spanning across all regions where we have a presence, these appointments reflect the confidence we have in our global business and our commitment to investing in our people and empowering them to reach their full potential. We are delighted to welcome our new partners and congratulate them on this significant milestone."

The promotions take effect on 1 May 2024.

The new partners and their principal areas of practice are:

Asia

Christopher Clay, Tokyo – Corporate Crime & Investigations

Michelle Virgiany, Jakarta – Financial Services and Technology*

Lucy Curran, Singapore – M&A and Private Capital

Murphy Mok, Hong Kong – International Arbitration*

Australia

Matthew Cameron, Brisbane – Industrial Relations and Employment

Mia Harrison-Kelf, Sydney – M&A and Takeovers

Laurelle Ko, Sydney – Projects

Tess Mierendorff, Sydney – Intellectual Property (Transactions)

Jared Peut, Melbourne – Competition

Anika Sadler, Perth – Commercial Litigation and Restructuring, Turnaround and Insolvency

Mathew Shelley, Brisbane – Energy & Infrastructure and Commercial Litigation

Claire Thompson, Melbourne – M&A and Takeovers

Joseph Varghese, Melbourne – Projects

EMEA

Miguel Fraga, Madrid – Energy and Infrastructure/M&A

Emily Fox, Paris – International Arbitration

Dr Morris Schonberg, Brussels – Competition, Regulation and Trade

Anna Szyndler, Dubai – M&A

UK

Laura Ackroyd, London – M&A

Emily Bottle, London/Milan – Intellectual Property

Vassilena Karadakova, London – Competition, Regulation and Trade

Philip Lis, London – Commercial Litigation and Restructuring, Turnaround and Insolvency

Sarah Ries-Coward, London – Equity Capital Markets and ESG

Charles Steward, London – M&A

James Wood, London – Public Law

Carolyn Milligan, London – Real Estate

US

Marco de Sousa, New York – International Arbitration and Public International Law

Michael Jones, New York – Commercial Litigation

Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung: Dandy Firmansyah, Jakarta – Corporate/Capital Markets, M&A and Financial Services Regulatory, and Tedy Rachmanto, Jakarta – Disputes/Commercial Litigation.

Notes:

* To meet regulatory requirements, these lawyers will use different titles in their local jurisdictions: Michelle Virgiany – Senior International Counsel; Murphy Mok – Senior Foreign Registered Lawyer (England & Wales).

1. Fourteen (52%) of this year’s partner promotions are women. 
2. In Jakarta, Herbert Smith Freehills' international counsel practise on secondment to associate firm Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung, one of Indonesia’s leading commercial and corporate law firms.
3. Hiswara Bunjamin & Tandjung has also promoted Dandy Firmansyah as a partner in its corporate practice and Tedy Rachmanto as a partner in its disputes practice.