Hall & Wilcox bolsters national commercial practice with new Perth appointments

Hall & Wilcox has strengthened its national and Western Australian commercial practice with a team of lawyers joining in Perth.

The team, who join from Kott Gunning, comprises partner Emma Leys, special counsel Claire Hawke-Gundill, lawyer Daphne Schilizzi, two paralegals and a legal assistant.

Emma has more than 25 years’ experience advising clients on all aspects of property and commercial law. Emma’s areas of practice include property, finance, corporate, commercial and local government law with a particular focus on property law.

Claire is a private clients specialist, with more than 10 years’ experience specialising in wills and estates. Claire works with accountants, financial planners and other intermediaries.

Managing Partner Tony Macvean said Hall & Wilcox had a strategic focus to develop and expand its Perth commercial practice and offering, adding to its substantial, growing and market-leading WA insurance practice.

‘We now have a full service commercial practice in Perth led by a high calibre cohort of partners and senior lawyers including Hector West, Penelope Ford, Rosemary Roach, Nicholas Beech and Scott Meacock, as well as Emma and Claire,’ he said.

‘Our Perth commercial practice has quadrupled in size in the past few months. With such an experienced and capable group of people on board, we look forward to continuing to make a significant impact on the Perth and WA legal market.’

Emma and Claire said, ‘We and our team are delighted to be joining Hall & Wilcox. We’re excited to be a part of the firm’s strategic growth in Perth and we are looking forward to the many opportunities that come with being part of a national firm that has such a strong reputation for its culture and for working collaboratively and innovatively.’

Hall & Wilcox is a leading independent law firm of more than 850 people, including over 100 partners, delivering legal services to corporate, public sector and private clients, both Australian-based and those offshore doing business in Australia.