Squire Sanders launches office in Sydney

PERTH, Australia, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global legal practice Squire Sanders announces that it is launching a new office in Sydney on 1 November, with the appointment of highly regarded cross-border M&A specialist Campbell Davidson who will be joining as partner from Allens.  Squire Sanders’ initial Sydney-based team will include new hires Richard Pascoe, of counsel in IP and Technology, from Truman Hoyle (and previously Gilbert & Tobin), Louise Boyce, of counsel in Taxation, from DLA Piper, and Anna Elliott, senior associate in Labour & Employment, from Holding Redlich.

Squire Sanders sees Sydney as a strategic financial and corporate hub in the Asia Pacific region, from which it will build upon its existing expertise in corporate and corporate finance, projects, infrastructure and taxation, as well as provide full service support for Australian and global clients in sectors such as media and entertainment, energy and resources, telecommunications, and chemicals.  The launch follows the announcement earlier this month of the opening of a new office in Seoul, Korea.

James J. Maiwurm, chair and global CEO of Squire Sanders, says: “Australia is an intrinsic part of our global business, and this investment in Sydney will support all our clients who do business not just in Australia but also across the Asia Pacific region. Our strategy has been to focus on high-level recruitment and invest in lawyers who have the right cultural and strategic fit, to support clients who seek to invest and capitalize on business opportunities  in the key hubs across the region - Perth, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo and now Seoul and Sydney.”

• Campbell Davidson advises national and international clients on acquisitions, disposals and joint ventures, and he has considerable cross-border experience. Over the past 20 years has worked in London, Singapore - where he was seconded as counsel to British Gas plc, Hong Kong - where was admitted to the High Court in 2010, and in Shanghai, where he headed Allens’ China corporate practice.  Among his recent transactions are representing China’s largest gold and copper producer, Zijn Mining Group, on its takeover bid for ASX listed Norton Gold Fields, and acting for the John Laing, Abigroup, Thiess, and Infrared consortium bid for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital PPP project.
• Richard Pascoe focuses on the commercial and regulatory issues facing clients in the communications and technology sectors and regularly leads complex transactions such as network rollouts, communications infrastructure procurement, outsourcing and commercial IT transactions.  He has broad international experience across the Asia Pacific region, and has worked in the Middle East and Europe.
• Louise Boyce, qualified lawyer and an Australian Chartered Accountant, is a taxation specialist with expertise in the energy, resource, infrastructure and corporate sectors.  She is particularly experienced in international tax structuring and cross-border work.
• Anna Elliott, dual–qualified in England and in New South Wales, specializes in workplace relations, with extensive experience in both Sydney and London of advising global clients on all aspects of employment and industrial relations law.

John Poulsen, managing partner of Squire Sanders Australia, comments: “We’re delighted to have lawyers of such calibre as the people joining us to launch our Sydney office.  All of our new colleagues have in-depth experience working with businesses internationally in the sectors we focus on, and they see the potential in our strong international presence and our Asia Pacific and global platform. Campbell’s track-record, know-how and reputation mean he is the perfect choice to be at the vanguard of our planned investment and growth in Sydney.”

The Squire Sanders team in Sydney anticipates moving into new permanent premises early in 2013.

Contact:

Nicola Woodmass, Senior Media Relations and Communications Manager, Asia, Middle East and Europe
E: Nicola.Woodmass@squiresanders.com
T: +44.0.121.222.3690

Teresa Tao, Squire Sanders Shanghai office
T: +86.21.6103.6300
E: teresa.tao@squiresanders.com