Another two new partners join JWS

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Johnson Winter & Slattery (JWS) has appointed two more new partners to the firm, with Avendra Singh and Richard Graham joining its Sydney office. This news follows closely on the heels of the firm’s recent appointments of Peter Smith, Bruce Adkins and Stuart Clague in Brisbane earlier this quarter.  

Avendra joined as a partner in the firm’s Projects and Construction practice from Squire Patton Boggs earlier this week. Richard will join the firm’s Corporate M&A group from Clifford Chance and is due to start in early May.

Johnson Winter & Slattery Managing Partner Peter Slattery said the firm is highly focused on strengthening its capabilities and platform in the market.

“We are increasingly seeing clients looking to work with independent firms that offer a full service practice. Because of the strength of our platform, quality of our people and ability to deliver cost-effective commercial outcomes, more clients are turning to us for their most complex legal matters.

We are highly focused on strengthening our capabilities through a number of strategic lateral hires. This has included appointing five new partners already this year, strengthening our expertise across mergers and acquisitions, projects, energy and resources, and restructuring and insolvency,” commented Peter. 

Avendra Singh is a leading construction and infrastructure lawyer, with a multijurisdictional, contentious and non-contentious practice that has covered urban renewal, residential and commercial property, public utilities, public infrastructure, representing major developers, public and private owners, design consultants, project managers, contractors and subcontractors.

Avendra commented: “Johnson Winter & Slattery has been going from strength to strength and is highly focused on growing its position in the market. I’m looking forward to working with the team to strengthen the firm’s construction and engineering offering and helping the firm expand in to new areas.” 

Avendra’s recent matters include:

  • Kingdom of Spain – Representing the Kingdom of Spain in two enforcement proceedings concerning Investment Convention ICSID arbitrations
  • National Roads, Bridges and Jetties – Representing public roads authority in a major $100m+ dispute with an international engineering company regarding failures in the standards of professional service provided in the management of the national road network. The case involves litigation in Court as well as arbitration under the Model Law
  • Provided transactional and dispute-related services to Frasers Property in the delivery of the Central Park precinct development near the Central Station, Sydney
  • Housing Authority of Fiji - Represented the Housing Authority in a dispute with hearings in court and arbitration conducted under SIAC Rules

Richard Graham is a transactional M&A lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience working across a range of industries, including energy and resources, IT, telecommunications, hospitality, healthcare, aged care and retirement living. Richard also specialises in advising clients on significant transactions in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. Richard works extensively with Australian and multinational companies, sovereign wealth funds and financial investors, but over his career he has also worked with large family offices and government.

Richard commented: “Johnson Winter Slattery is a growing firm with a bright future. During a period when the legal industry in Australia has undergone significant transformation, JWS has carved out its place in the industry as a ‘go-to’ firm for clients undertaking large and complex transactions – both domestic and cross-border – as well as for clients needing assistance with complicated regulatory matters.  At the core of this success – and the attraction for me – is the firm’s genuinely full-service and national platform, delivered by recognised quality practitioners at all levels. The firm is well positioned to capitalise on opportunities in the future and I am excited to be part of that future from May this year.”

Richard’s experience includes working with clients such as AXA Investment Managers, Fujitsu, Mitsui, VINCI Airports and CBRE Global Investors.  Other examples include working with:

  • Mondelez on the AU$460 million sale of its Australia and New Zealand grocery business (including Vegemite) to Bega Cheese
  • Lend Lease Primelife on the restructure of its management rights over 12 retirement villages owned by Australian Property Custodian Holdings Limited (Prime Trust) arising as a result of the insolvency of APCH, including various village acquisitions
  • APA Group on its c.AU$500 million restructure and sale of 80% of its Queensland gas distribution network
  • Publishing & Broadcasting Limited on the creation of PBL Media and its disposal of a 50 per cent (c.AU$4.5 billion) interest in PBL Media to CVC Asia Pacific Ltd

-ENDS-

About Johnson Winter & Slattery

Johnson Winter & Slattery is an independent national Australian law firm with over 65 partners and offices across Australia. We advise major Australian and international corporations and investment funds on their most challenging transactions and disputes across Australia and surrounding regions. Working closely with clients, knowing their business, and appreciating their commercial objectives, we tailor our approach to deliver cost-effective commercial outcomes.

Media contacts: 

Daya Knapton, Communications Manager

E: Daya.Knapton@jws.com.au

T: +61 2 8247 9638

Kate Potter, Business Development Director

E: Kate.Potter@jws.com.au

T: +61 2 8247 9659

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