HFW enhances global insurance practice and continues Australia growth with Sydney Special Counsel hires

Global sector-focused law firm HFW has bolstered its global insurance group and continued the significant growth of its Australia business with the hire of two Special Counsel in Sydney.

Dominic Russell joined HFW from Dentons in September 2024 and Phillip Thomas joined from Meridian Lawyers in late October 2024.

HFW has now added three Special Counsel to its insurance group in Sydney since the beginning of FY24 following the arrival of insurance and litigation specialist Grant Covington from Omni Bridgeway in October 2023.

HFW has been reported as the fastest-growing law firm in Australia over the last 12 months by the Australian Financial Review. The firm has added thirteen new partners across its offices in Melbourne, Perth, and Sydney since the beginning of FY24. These include a major corporate, projects, and regulatory team, an aerospace, shipping, energy and litigation funding team, a restructuring, insolvency and commercial litigation team and a construction disputes and international arbitration partner.

Gavin Vallely, Managing Partner Australia:

“I am pleased to welcome Dominic and Phillip to HFW. Their appointments follow a series of hires we have made in Australia in the last 18 months as we continue to invest in our business and implement our growth plan.”

Dominic specialises in complex commercial and employment litigation and investigations, enforcement of contractual restraints of trade, white collar crime and misconduct investigations. His clients include public and private companies, boards and high net worth individuals across a range of industries including insurance, financial services, engineering, mining, manufacturing, construction and professional services.

Dominic has acted in proceedings in all Australian jurisdictions, including proceedings in the NSW Court of Appeal, the Full Court of the Federal Court, and the High Court of Australia.

Phillip has more than ten years’ experience advising clients in the insurance industry in relation to professional indemnity, building and construction, property damage, public liability, and policy coverage. He has expertise in litigation and arbitration, and has acted for local and overseas underwriters, including Lloyd’s Syndicates in the London insurance market, as well as numerous large global and Australian insurers and private clients.

Phillip has managed complex and high-profile cases including before the NSW Land & Environment Court, the NSW Supreme Court and the Australian Federal Court.

Christopher Foster, Global Head of Insurance and Reinsurance, HFW:

“As experienced practitioners with an impressive track record in litigation, Dominic and Phillip will make a valuable contribution to our global insurance group and our clients. They will work with our existing team of experts, which includes 20 partners and more than 60 lawyers located across the firm’s international network.”

These hires continue a period of sustained expansion for HFW globally that has made it one of the fastest-growing law firms in the market. HFW has added more than 50 new partners since the beginning of FY23, including team and partner hires in Hong Kong, Kuwait City, London, Melbourne, Paris, Perth, Piraeus, Riyadh, Singapore and Sydney.