HWL Ebsworth

HWL Ebsworth
Headquarters Melbourne, Australia
No. of offices 9
No. of lawyers 675[1]
No. of employees 1006
Major practice areas Full service commercial law firm
Key people Juan Martinez (Managing Partner)[2]
Revenue Increase AU$200 million (2013/14)[3]
Date founded 1890s
Company type Partnership
Website
www.hwlebsworth.com.au

HWL Ebsworth is a commercial law firm that operates throughout Australia. After numerous mergers and a dramatic expansion over the past decade the firm has come to be considered one of Australia's leading national law firms.[4]

HWL Ebsworth is one of the largest law firms in Australia. As of June 2015 it was ranked Australia's largest law firm measured by number of partners[5] with 196 partners and over 950 staff working across the firm's nine offices.[1] Though the firm has endeavoured to remain independent from international law firm mergers and networks, it still carries on an international practice in conjunction with overseas firms to service its global clients.[6]

HWL Ebsworth also has a consulting practice carried on by an associated entity known as HWLE Consulting Pty Ltd. The consulting practice works in conjunction with the law firm focusing on contracting services and strategic advice for corporations and businesses.[7]

History

HWL Ebsworth traces its foundation back to the 1890s.[1] Throughout the second half of the 20th Century the firm was known as Ebsworth and Ebsworth prior to merging with Home Wilkinson Lowry in 2008.[8]

Over the past decade HWL Ebsworth has expanded dramatically with the firm's growth exceeding most other law firms in the Australian market.[9]

In 2011 HWL Ebsworth opened its new office in Canberra, one of the largest law offices located in the Australian Capital Territory.[10] In 2013 the firm expanded into Western Australia by merging with Downings Legal. Downings Legal was one of Western Australia's oldest law firms.[11] In 2014 HWL Ebsworth merged with leading Adelaide commercial law firm Kelly & Co.[12] Kelly & Co had one of Australia's top ranked litigation practices that now forms part of HWL Ebsworth.[13]

530 Collins Street Tower, HWL Ebsworth's Head Office in Melbourne.
Australia Square, HWL Ebsworth's Sydney office.
Westpac House, HWL Ebsworth's Adelaide office.

In December 2014 it was revealed that HWL Ebsworth would take over two additional Australian law firms.[14] In January 2015 South Australian firm Lawson Smith Lawyers merged into the HWL Ebsworth Adelaide Office adding 6 new partners to the firm. In February 2015 the leading full service Northern Territory law firm Cridlands MB became HWL Ebsworth's two new Northern Territory offices, located in Darwin and Alice Springs. Cridlands MB was the largest law firm in the Northern Territory prior to merging with HWL Ebsworth.[15]

It is anticipated by the firm's management and commentators that HWL Ebsworth will continue to pursue its aggressive growth strategy over the short to medium term.[16]

Practice areas

HWL Ebsworth is a full service commercial law firm and the firm accordingly participates in all major commercial law practice areas. A substantial amount of the firm's work includes Insurance, Banking and Financial Services, Construction, Capital Markets, Corporate and Commercial, Energy and Resources, Government, Insolvency, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Dispute Resolution and Transport.[17]

In the past the firm was renowned as Australia's leading insurance law firm,[4] while also being a market leader in maritime law.[18][19] The firm has continued to be ranked top tier in these areas,[20] while also developing leading Native Title[21][22] and general commercial and corporate law practices.[23]

Offices

Notable alumni

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Who we are". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "HWL Ebsworth Management Team". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  3. ↑ Merzrani, Leanne. "HWL takes Kelly & Co". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Legal 500 Australian Rankings". Legal 500. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  5. ↑ "Interactive - Law Partnership Survey". Financial Review. Retrieved 26 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "International Offering". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  7. ↑ "Who we are". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  8. ↑ "HWL merges with Ebsworth and Ebsworth". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  9. ↑ Merritt, Chris. "Size not the goal of growing HWL Ebsworth". The Australian newspaper online. The Australian. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  10. ↑ "HWL Ebsowrth launches Canberra digs with DLA Piper". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  11. ↑ "Entry to Perth market signals the continuation of HWL Ebsorth's unrelenting growth". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  12. ↑ "HWL Ebsowrth and Kelly & Co combine to offer clients a unique legal services offering in South Australia". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  13. ↑ "Legal 500 Australian Dispute Resolution Rankings". Legal 500. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  14. ↑ "HWL to open in Darwin and Alice Springs". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  15. ↑ "HWL Ebsowrth significantly increases investment in South Australia with Lawson Smith Lawyers acquisition". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
  16. ↑ "HWL Ebsworth eyes more aggressive growth". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  17. ↑ "HWL Ebsworth Expertise". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  18. ↑ "HWL Ebsworth Shipping and Trade". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  19. ↑ "Legal 500 Australian Transport Rankings". Legal 500. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  20. ↑ "Chambers and Partners HWL Ebsworth". Chambers and Partners. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  21. ↑ "HWL Ebsworth Native Title". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  22. ↑ "Chambers and Partners Native Title Rankings". Chambers and Partners. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  23. ↑ "Legal 500 Legal Market Overview". Legal 500. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  24. ↑ "Appointments to the Federal Judiciary". Attorney General of Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
  25. ↑ "Emeritus Professor Ron McCallum AO". Sydney Law School. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  26. ↑ "Alan Rose AO". HWL Ebsowrth. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  27. ↑ "About Mr Alan Rose AO". Sydney Law School. Retrieved 30 October 2014.
  28. ↑ "ALRC Past Presidents". ALRC. Retrieved 30 October 2014.

External links

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