Law firm highlights – Feb 2022
- Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed Madhavi Gosavi as head of banking and finance for Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA), effective January 1, 2022. Gosavi will succeed Chris Brown, who has held the leadership role since 2019. With her appointment, Gosavi will also assume a position on the firm’s EMEA management committee. She joins four new committee members, including head of Hong Kong Psyche Tai, head of Singapore Yu-En Ong, head of Paris George Paterson and global co-head of information governance, privacy and cybersecurity Ffion Flockhart. Madhavi Gosavi commented, “I am excited and enthused to take over the leadership of our EMEA banking and finance team which is one of the leading practices in the market. The opportunities for Norton Rose Fulbright ah
ead are vast and I am look forward to working with our clients and our banking partners to build on our global platform.” Peter Scott, managing partner, Europe, Middle East and Asia, commented, “At a time of profound change for our firm and our clients, we need strong and dynamic leadership to drive forward our banking and finance practice. Madhavi is an outstanding lawyer, and, with her wealth of experience, we will continue to deepen our capabilities and enhance the value we provide to clients. We are also delighted to welcome four new members to our EMEA management committee whose practice and management experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow our firm for the future, drive collaboration and help our clients navigate their most pressing challenges around the world. In line with our commitment to improve diversity at all levels in our business, I’m delighted to say that we have achieved equal representation of men and women in our new leadership team with over a third of members from Black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds.”
HFW has elected Giles Kavanagh as its new global senior partner as the firm seeks to accelerate growth across its industry groups, legal services and international network. Kavanagh is currently head of HFW’s leading global aviation practice and a member of the firm’s Management Board. He will become senior partner on April 1, 2022, when incumbent Richard Crump will stand down at the end of his fifth term, after 15 years in the role. As senior partner, Giles will work alongside managing partner Jeremy Shebson and the rest of the Board to fulfil the firm’s vision and drive the strategy for the business, which comprises more than 1,000 lawyers and business services professionals across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Kavanagh will also continue to lead the firm’s sustainability strategy, having been appointed in April 2021 as its first sustainability partner. Kavanagh joined HFW in 2011, when the firm hired the entire aviation practice of Barlow, Lyde & Gilbert (now Clyde & Co), which he led. HFW’s aerospace group has subsequently grown from 27 lawyers in four countries to 80 lawyers in 10 countries, with revenues increasing by 250 per cent. Jeremy Shebson, managing partner, HFW, “On behalf of the Board, the partnership and everyone at HFW, I’d like to thank Richard for his immense contribution to the firm as senior partner over the past 15 years. I’ve known Giles for a long time, and I know he will prioritise communication and teamwork. Giles is extremely capable and will put our people and our clients first. He will want to develop the significant opportunities we have at HFW. I look forward to working with him.” Giles Kavanagh, global senior partner elect, HFW, “I am incredibly proud to have been elected by our partnership to become HFW’s new senior partner. We are all grateful for Richard’s significant contribution as senior partner over the past 15 years. During that time, HFW has changed significantly, branching out from our roots as a shipping firm to establish a multi-sector focus that sets us apart in a crowded legal market, and building an international network that enables us to help our clients in key markets around the world. This included bringing the aerospace team to the firm, which I have been proud to lead and develop. I am looking forward to working with Jeremy and the Board to continue to strengthen and grow our business – across all of our sectors, services and offices – and to make sure that we continue to meet the changing needs of our clients in order to provide them with the best possible service. The legal market is more competitive than ever, but I passionately believe that, working with our clients and the talent we’re fortunate to have at the firm, we can together build a bold, bright future for HFW.”
