Both Hamish and Matt are highly regarded, market-leading Insurance lawyers, committed to upholding DWF's commitment to excellence and client satisfaction, and building upon its solid strategic and cultural foundation in Australia.
These appointments come amid continued growth for DWF in Australia, with recent promotions and new hires reinforcing the expansion of two key practice areas of Insurance and Employment & Safety. January 2024 saw the internal appointment of two Insurance partners, as well as the promotion of three Senior Associates to Special Counsel. The past 12 months have seen significant organic growth of DWF's Brisbane and Gold Coast offices with over 25 new hires.
Recently, DWF has also expanded its presence in jurisdictions across the globe, including several key hires in the Middle East.
Commenting on the leadership appointment, Matt Dudakov said, "I am thrilled to have been appointed to jointly lead DWF in Australia at an important time of growth for the business. With a focus on consolidation and expansion, we are well placed to further develop our global client relationships and build our insurance capacity in Australia. I would like to acknowledge the significant contributions made by the previous leadership team, and the instrumental role they played in guiding DWF to the strong position in the market it enjoys today."
Hamish Broadbent commented, "I am delighted to have been appointed to the joint leadership role and look forward to continuing to provide the highest levels of service to our valued clients, while steering the development and progression of our people across the Australian offices. I thank the outgoing DWF Australia leadership team for their hard work and dedication to building our genuine and inclusive culture and reputation for exceptional client service."
DWF farewells former Country Managing Partner Damien van Brunschot, who stepped down from the role at the end of April. Also stepping down from a Principal Lawyer role is Employment, Safety and Regulatory lawyer Matthew Smith. Damien leaves DWF to pursue other ventures, whilst Matthew will remain with DWF on a consultancy basis.
