Business Movers

Lawyers Pringle, Pacitti, promoted to partner

WESTERN Australian law firms Clayton Utz, Blake Dawson, and DLA Piper have added new partners to their practices in the past week, while a long-serving member of staff has retired from Norton Rose.

Mary Pringle has been promoted to partner in the Perth office of Clayton Utz. Ms Pringle specialises in real estate and has previously worked as a banking and finance as well as a resources lawyer.

Blake Dawson has appointed five new partners to its Perth practice. Rob Lilburn, who was previously with Mallesons, has been appointed as employment partner, and Gaelan Cooney, previously with Cooney Lawyers, has been appointed as banking and finance partner.

The others are internal promotions, and comprise Antonella Pacitti in corporate mergers and acquisitions, William Coulthard in construction, and Peter Ward in litigation. Blake Dawson’s Perth practice now has 23 partners in total.

“This year’s appointments and promotions reflect the activity in the local and international market and our focus on investing in our people, our client relationships and responding to the ongoing growth and competition in the Perth legal market,” Perth practice leader Paul Riethmuller said.

DLA Piper, which recently changed its name from DLA Phillips Fox following a merger with the global giant DLA Piper International, has promoted Paul Lim to special counsel in the finance and projects group.

At Norton Rose, commercial property lawyer Lee Verios has retired from his position as consultant. The 40-year Perth law veteran spent the past 10 years at Norton Rose and will now continue in his non-executive director roles at Wyllie Group, Port Bouvard and Decmil.

Mr Verios advised local and national listed and unlisted property developers and investors in the full range of commercial property development, and has acted in relation to the sale and acquisition of many large scale property holdings, including agricultural and primary industry properties. Norton Rose’s Perth real estate group is now led by Eagul Faigen, who has broad experience handling large-scale property transactions for public and private sector clients.

Sarandopoulos moving up at Crowe Horwath

ACCOUNTING firm Crowe Horwath promoted Peter Sarandopoulos to principal in the business advisory services division.

Perth office CEO Geoff Kidd said: “We are aware of the importance of attracting new specialists to the firm, but also look to continually develop and promote within our highly talented team.”

Mr Horwath has previously provided business and taxation advice to a diverse range of WA businesses and high net-worth individuals.