Commercial law firm Cowell Clarke has acquired Sydney-based Andrews & Holm Lawyers, adding two new Directors and five lawyers to its CBD office.
It is the latest corporate move in Sydney by Cowell Clarke, with the firm actively seeking out further opportunities to grow its local presence.
Joining Cowell Clarke are Andrews & Holm Directors Andrew Mutton and Paul Holm along with five lawyers.
The seven-strong team starts today in Cowell Clarke’s Pitt Street office.
The acquisition by Cowell Clarke follows its recruitment in May last year of the eight-member corporate and commercial team from Australian Business Lawyers & Advisors (ABLA), a subsidiary of Business NSW.
Andrews & Holm Lawyers is a boutique commercial law firm formed in 2010.
Paul Holm has more than 25 years’ experience as a corporate lawyer who specialises in competition law and regulation, advising corporate and government clients on mergers, restrictive trade practices, access to essential services, consumer protection, franchising and compliance issues, as well as ESG. Prior to A&H Lawyers, he worked at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), New Zealand’s Commerce Commission and the General Directorate-IV (Competition) of the European Commission Brussels, Belgium.
Andrew Mutton is highly experienced in the areas of corporate finance, property transactions, property finance and Australian financial services laws. He acts on direct real estate acquisitions and sales, property joint ventures and debt financings as well as acting for funds managers in fund establishment, capital raisings, financial services law compliance and Australian Financial Services Licence applications and variations.
Cowell Clarke Managing Director, Rob Comazzetto, said the Andrews & Holm team brought additional expertise and capabilities to its Sydney offering.
“Andrew and Paul have built a strong reputation for providing high level corporate and commercial legal services,” Mr Comazzetto said.
“We welcome them as Directors of Cowell Clarke and know that, along with their team, they will be highly valued trusted advisers to our existing and future clients.”
Mr Holm said Cowell Clarke was the ideal long term growth partner.
“The values and culture of both firms align,” Mr Holm said.
“We saw an opportunity to team with a dynamic and progressive law firm that supports and promotes its future leaders.
“As well as benefiting our clients, joining Cowell Clarke creates clear career progression pathways for our team and provides further opportunity to work with other leading Australian businesses on increasingly complex matters.”
Cowell Clarke also recently appointed property lawyer Sylvia Mansour to its Sydney office. Previously a member of the Property and Development team at Russell Kennedy, Ms Mansour has acted and advised on a range of matters for NSW and ACT operators including retirement village transactions.
With these latest moves and the firm’s ongoing growth in South Australia, Cowell Clarke now has 145 lawyers and staff operating across offices in Adelaide and Sydney. The firm’s leadership team includes Managing Director Rob Comazzetto, Chair Megan Jongebloed, Chief Operating Officer Natasha Nicholas and 13 Directors.
Ms Jongebloed said Cowell Clarke continues to expand across South Australia and New South Wales, growing its digital offering alongside its traditional full commercial law services.
“We are steadily increasing our footprint in Sydney with our clients’ evolving legal requirements front of mind,” Ms Jongebloed said.
“As well as organic growth, we will continue to pursue an acquisition pathway when the right opportunity presents itself and is a strategic fit.
“We see great potential for our Sydney office and we are actively seeking out more exceptional lawyers to join us, either individually or as part of a team.”
With offices in Adelaide and Sydney, Cowell Clarke provides legal services, commercial advice, legal digital solutions and support to clients in business and industry across Australia and internationally. This includes within digital & technology, aged care, property and infrastructure, agribusiness, financial services, retail & manufacturing, not-for-profits and international trade.
Media contact:
Bianca Buchhorn, Head of Business Development and Marketing.
Ph: 0447 425 167 or email: bbuchhorn@cowellclarke.com.au