Sydney, Australia
K&L Gates' Sydney office has hired construction and infrastructure partner Simon Ashworth from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, and has lost restructuring and insolvency partner Danielle Funston to Maddocks.
Ashworth specializes in infrastructure procurement in Australia and New Zealand, particularly in procurement strategy and contractual drafting, and negotiations for energy, resources and infrastructure projects.
He joined Corrs in 2005 and made partner in 2007. Previously, he practiced at MinterEllison in Melbourne and in the London offices of Linklaters and legacy Berwin Leighton Paisner.
Meanwhile, Funston leaves K&L Gates for Maddocks. She focuses on recoveries, liquidations, corporate restructuring and general corporate transactions, as well as financial services litigation matters, in a wide variety of industries, including agricultural, automotive, aviation, construction and real estate.
In 2016, Funston was involved in Australian resources and mining services company Emeco Holdings Ltd.'s restructure and eventual $520 million three-way merger with rival contractors Orionstone Holdings Pty. Ltd. and Andy's Earthmovers Pty. Ltd., advising on one of the investment banks in the deal.
Funston joined K&L Gates in 2013 as special counsel and made partner in 2015. Previously, she practiced at Norton Rose Fulbright for eight years and at midsized Australian firm Hunt & Hunt for a year.
Maddocks has more than 600 lawyers, including about 80 partners, across offices in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
K&L Gates has about 80 lawyers in Sydney, including 22 partners.
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