The Brief:
HFW launches in Brisbane as it doubles down on Queensland’s construction boom ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
The move cements HFW’s fourth Australian office and continues its rapid global expansion.
HFW has opened its doors in Brisbane, marking a major step in its Australian growth strategy with the hire of partner Christopher Rowden and his team from CDI Lawyers.
Rowden, who has more than 15 years’ experience in construction and infrastructure disputes, joins alongside Special Counsels Jason Pungsornruk and Thomas Law, Senior Associate Samantha Fry, and Associate William Lowes.
Rowden brings more than 15 years’ experience in construction and infrastructure disputes, acting for contractors and subcontractors across energy, resources, renewables, oil and gas, and engineering. That includes acting for a Japanese contractor in a Singapore-seated arbitration and adjudication disputes tied to the $50bn Ichthys LNG project in Darwin.
Queensland has been experiencing a construction boom, with many of our clients involved in major infrastructure projects across the State and, in particular in the South East corridor… Chris and his team will work closely with our Australian construction group to support clients on significant projects and disputes in Australia and across the wider Asia Pacific region.
The hire continues HFW’s rapid expansion. Its global construction practice has added 9 partners in the past two years, and its Aussie arm has added 16 partners since FY24.
HFW now counts 33 partners and over 150 lawyers across its Australian offices.
Source: HFW