Appointments January 18, 2019

Boston-based global advisory, restructuring and investment firm Gordon Brothers has opened its first Perth office, to be led by equipment valuation and auction industry veteran, Ben Gibson. Mr Gibson was most recently executive director, restructuring and finance at Tiger Asset Group, and was previously general manager for the Western Australian operations of Graysonline.

Shaw & Partners has appointed Mike Pilkington and Garth Jeffery to its Perth office. Both join the firm from Commonwealth Private Bank. Mr Pilkington has moved into the role of senior investment adviser, with Mr Jeffery as private wealth adviser, taking the Perth team to five staff.

Kott Gunning Lawyers has moved into its 100th year by merging with members of the Park Legal Solutions team, including property and strata titles lawyer John Park. Lawyer Jack Carroll, law graduate Abbi Beckwith and law clerk Rebecca Barker will move to the firm. Trent Passmore has also joined Kott Gunning from Separovic Injury Lawyers.

Former premier Colin Barnett has been appointed to the University of Western Australia’s Business School as an adjunct professor. Mr Barnett was the state’s 29th premier, after working extensively in the field of economics. The School has also appointed Australian macroeconomist Jakob Madsen, a prominent economist in the area of economic growth.

Electricity and natural gas representative group, the Australian Energy Council, has appointed Perth-based Scott Davis to a newly created role of policy advisor, Western Australia. Mr Davis has experience in product development, marketing and price reform roles in the electricity sector. He held a key role in delivering demand based tariffs for Horizon Power customers.

Property executive Andrew Williams has been appointed as general manager of the Industrial Lands Authority. The newly formed ILA will develop industrial and commercial spaces across the state, initially operating within LandCorp. Mr Williams is currently the general manager of the Northern Territory Land Development Corporation, with extensive experience in commercial and industrial property development.

HopgoodGanim Lawyers has promoted Sarah O’Brien-Smith to senior associate. Ms O’Brien-Smith represents clients in the mining sector, and has been involved in international arbitrations relating to mining and infrastructure projects in Africa. In the past 12 months, the Perth office has completed deals for Ascot Resources, Black Mountain Metals, Kangaroo Resources, Silver Lake Resources among others.