Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW) has announced the further expansion of its Australian capability with the recruitment of former Blake Dawson partner, Alex Baykitch, to head its new office in Sydney.
Baykitch specialises in international commercial arbitration and litigation, with a focus on cross-border disputes involving the maritime, aviation, mining & energy, and insurance & reinsurance sectors. His clients include shipowners and operators and their P&I Clubs, hull and machinery underwriters, airlines and their insurers, mining & energy companies, commodities traders, general insurers and banks.
Described by Chambers Asia 2008 as “...fast rising and energetic …who has developed into one of Australia’s strongest arbitration counsel”, he has extensive experience conducting domestic and international arbitrations arising from shipping, oil and gas, commodities and aerospace disputes. He has? also conducted international arbitrations in Australia, the UK, Korea, Hong Kong and Paris as counsel, and as sole and party appointed arbitrator, as well as chairing arbitral tribunals.
Baykitch? has long experience of conducting successful litigation in the Supreme, Federal and High Courts of Australia as well as expert determinations, references, mediations and other alternative forms of dispute resolution.
Gavin Vallely, Managing Partner of HFW’s Australian offices comments: “The recruitment of Alex adds an extra dimension to our growing Australian practice and he joins us at an exciting time for the practice, following the recent announcements of Hazel Brasington’s promotion to Partner, the transfer of London-based Partner Andrew Dunn to Melbourne and the recruitment of Sydney-based Consultant Philip Purcell.
Alex is recognised in our market as leader in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution and his recruitment opens up new opportunities for us in relation to increasing the flow of large, complex, cross-border commercial disputes that we handle.
Alex will soon be joined in Sydney by 3 senior lawyers who between them have extensive experience in running large litigation in London, New York and Australia.”
The firm’s Senior Partner, Richard Crump, adds: “Since opening our office in Melbourne in 2006, we have viewed Australia as integral to our international strategy. The growth of our Australian practice emphasises the desire of our clients to have legal advisers they can trust in the markets in which they operate. With this in mind, I am pleased to say that we are now actively seeking permanent premises in Sydney.”
