Press releases
HFW announces new senior associates for all core sectors and regions
Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has announced the promotion of 13 new senior associates, effective 1 April 2021.
The promotions continue HFW's growth across its international network and core sectors, spanning the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pac, and each of the firm's global industry groups: aerospace, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance, and shipping.
HFW has also announced the promotion of six new partners and five new legal directors, effective 1 April 2021, further strengthening its global offering.
Jeremy Shebson, Managing Partner, HFW:
"HFW's new senior associates exemplify the diverse talent we have at the firm, with promotions in each of our regions and core sectors. Each of the 13 lawyers promoted have demonstrated outstanding legal ability and made significant contributions to the firm, and I am delighted to see them progress to the next step of their careers. Congratulations to all."
New Senior Associates
Whitney Chan (Aerospace, Hong Kong)
Whitney acts for airlines, lessors and financial institutions in a variety of commercial aviation matters, specialising in aircraft financing, leasing and trading for both commercial and corporate aircraft. She also advises on new aircraft acquisitions from OEMs, used aircraft and engine acquisitions, aircraft sale and lease-back arrangements, aircraft operating leases, and long-term engine maintenance agreements.
Edward Beeley (Commodities, Hong Kong)
Edward specialises in complex and high-value multi-jurisdictional arbitration and litigation involving international trade, commodities and finance. His arbitration experience includes acting for world-leading traders, financial institutions and related service providers under the HKIAC, SIAC, UNCITRAL, LCIA and LMAA regimes in jurisdictions across Asia and Europe. He also advises clients on insolvency, debt-recovery and restructuring matters. Edward is qualified in England & Wales and in Hong Kong.
Caroline West (Commodities, Geneva)
Caroline is an English qualified lawyer based in Geneva. Caroline advises commodities traders, banks and charterers on all aspects of international trade, from drafting contract terms to advising on disputes submitted to arbitration or the English Courts. Caroline has particular expertise in metals, having time on secondment with a steel and iron ore trader. She also regularly advises on legal issues arising from the sale and purchase of soft commodities, crude oil and petroleum products.
Joanne Button (Construction, London)
Joanne specialises in construction and engineering law, both in the UK and internationally. She is experienced in contract review, negotiation, dispute avoidance and dispute resolution, including adjudication, arbitration, litigation and mediation. She advises contractors, employers and subcontractors on large, complex projects across a variety of sectors including offshore construction, infrastructure, hydro-electric and oil & gas.
Laura Jacobs (Construction, Sydney)
Laura specialises in workplace relations law, working with clients across a range of industries to identify and manage legal risks in the workplace and defend employee claims when they arise. She advises on all areas of workplace law including general employment, discrimination, industrial relations and workplace health and safety.
Julie-Anne Mallis (Construction, Hong Kong)
Julie-Anne is a construction disputes lawyer specialising in major infrastructure, engineering, and energy and resources disputes. She has experience acting for government, principals, contractors and subcontractors in litigation, arbitration and adjudication proceedings concerning projects in Asia, the Middle East and Australia. Julie-Anne is qualified in Hong Kong and Australia.
Harry Zhang (Construction, Sydney)
Harry is qualified in Australia and the People's Republic of China. He acts for international developers, investors, fund managers and financiers in property acquisition, development and disposal, property finance, Foreign Investment Review Board applications, private M&A as well as fund formation and management. Notably, he has a sound knowledge of preferred structures for Chinese outbound investment in the APAC region.
Jessica Marshall (Energy & Resources, Perth)
Jessica advises clients primarily in the energy, regulatory and competition areas. She has a particular focus on advising clients in the Australian energy industry in relation to the new energy transition, including new energy trials and projects, as well as advising on retail, wholesale market and network contracting and regulation. Jessica has advised on a number of key regulatory and legislative reforms in the electricity industry.
Pierre Feng (Insurance & Reinsurance, Paris)
Pierre specialises in insurance/reinsurance, industrial risks and international commercial litigation. His practice focuses on complex and large-scale claims involving product liability, professional indemnity, civil liability and construction as well as insurance coverage issues. Pierre also has experience in international arbitration.
Alex Mendez (Shipping, Houston)
Alex advises clients on maritime/admiralty, logistics, transportation, labour and employment and corporate litigation matters. His practice focuses on risk management, civil litigation, contract analysis, document drafting, and e-discovery, and he has extensive experience conducting on-site investigations, including marine casualties, cargo and personal injury claims, draft reports detailing applicable law, legal strategy, and possible outcomes.
Hélène de Ferrières (Shipping, Paris)
Hélène specialises in maritime and railway law, and advises clients in both contentious and transactional matters. She has experience in the transactional aspects of the commercial shipping and yachting industries, including the construction, chartering, purchase and sale, refit and registration of ships, as well as public law contracts and advice in relation to the French public and maritime domain.
Simon Gamboni (Shipping, Dubai)
Simon specialises in dispute resolution including large scale, multinational litigation and arbitration in the shipping, transport and international trade sectors. He also advises on non-contentious matters, including in relation to trade sanctions, commodities trading and shipping contracts, and has experience in enforcement proceedings.
Alexandra Lamont (Shipping, Sydney)
Alexandra specialises in shipping and international trade, with a particular focus on disputes arising from charterparties, bills of lading, marine insurance, personal injury and marine causalities. She also provides advice in relation to ship arrests and regulatory issues including pollution, licensing and safety (including the IMDG Code and SOLAS). She commonly acts for shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs and local authorities.
About HFW
HFW is a leading global law firm in the aerospace, commodities, construction, energy and resources, insurance, and shipping sectors. The firm has more than 600 lawyers, including 185 partners, based in offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. HFW prides itself on its deep industry expertise and its entrepreneurial, creative and collaborative culture.
For further information, please contact:
Chris Johnson
Head of Communications
D +44 (0)20 7264 8159
M +44 (0)7976 939864
E chris.johnson@hfw.com
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