NRF looks to Clayton Utz, Ashurst for new partner, special counsel hires

After some recent departures ahead of its merger, the firm promised that it will announce a number of new hires

NRF looks to Clayton Utz, Ashurst for new partner, special counsel hires
Here come the Norton Rose Fulbright (NRF) laterals.

Just two weeks after the firm promised to announce new hires, it has confirmed that it has hired a partner from Clayton Utz and a special counsel from Ashurst.

Jasmine Sprange has been appointed as partner by the global firm, which has also appointed Paul O’Donnell as special counsel.

The news comes after NRF said earlier this month that the loss of partners ahead of a merger is normal. The firm was reacting to an announcement by Pinsent Masons that a four-partner team from NRF will transfer and help them open an office in Perth.

Last week, Corrs Chambers Westgarth confirmed that it has hired five partners from Henry Davis York (HDY), NRF’s merger partner.

Sprange will become partner in NRF’s corporate team in Sydney in October. She is a specialist in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the financial services, infrastructure, and real estate sectors.
O’Donnell, who will also join the firm’s Sydney corporate team in October, is a tax expert, with a focus on income tax; structure, asset, and project financing; and debt restructuring. He also has particular focus on business and investment banking and funds management, with a practice that has a strong emphasis on the tax affairs of Australian and foreign banking groups.

The new partner and new special counsel come to the firm after recent additions to the firm. M&A partner Martin Irwin joined in July in Sydney, and M&A partner Adam Edelman joins the Perth office in September. Since January 2016, the firm has announced ten other lateral partner hires. In the past year, it has promoted Raymond Lou, Matt Ellis, James Morris, Jyoti Singh, Jeffery Black, Ben Davis, Georgina Hey, John Moran, Tim Mornane, and Meriel Steadman to partner.

Wayne Spanner, NRF’s managing partner in Australia, said the new appointments bolsters the firm’s offering to clients across financial institutions, infrastructure, and real estate. The hires also demonstrate the firm’s ability to attract quality senior lawyers, he said.

“They also join at an exciting time for our firm as we continue to strengthen our position in local, regional, and global markets,” he said.


Related stories:
NRF says partner losses common ahead of mergers
Exits confirmed at HDY ahead of merger
NRF, HDY partnerships approve merger

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