Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed technology law expert Cameron Whittfield as a partner based in Australia to help drive the firm’s global ambitions in the technology, cyber security and digital space.
Cameron, who will start at Herbert Smith Freehills in March, joins the firm from PwC where he has been a partner since 2016. He is currently the national lead of PwC’s Australian Digital & Technology Law team and the TMT industry leader for the PwC Global Legal Network. He is also the Legal Lead for the firm’s Cybersecurity & Digital Trust team.
Cameron has significant expertise advising international clients on emerging technology, cyber security, technology and telecommunications reform and other technology-related legal issues. He also has extensive experience in acting for clients on technology-related M&A transactions.
Prior to joining PwC, Cameron founded the Melbourne office of Gilbert + Tobin where he was a partner for seven years, and before that he was a senior lawyer at Freehills (prior to the firm’s merger with Herbert Smith). Cameron has worked in many jurisdictions throughout the world, including extended periods based in New Zealand, London, North America and Paris.
Herbert Smith Freehills’ Managing Partner, Corporate, Carolyn Pugsley said: “I’m thrilled to have Cameron joining our team. He is a renowned technology expert with over 25 years’ of experience advising clients on digital and technology issues, including cyber security, data governance, crisis management and technology M&A and disputes. He’s also playing a leading role in supporting clients to navigate issues relating to emerging technologies like blockchain and AI.
“Clients have told us that these issues require cross-practice capability and global perspective, and Cameron has a proven track record of being able to lead cross-practice, multi-regional teams to deliver exceptional client outcomes.”
Cameron said: “I’m absolutely delighted to return to Herbert Smith Freehills, to help the firm and its clients successfully navigate the complexities and opportunities that arise in a changing digital economy. For me, HSF has always stood out for the quality of its legal advice and the excellence of its service delivery. I’m looking forward to making an important and enduring contribution.”
Cameron is the second partner with a strong technology focus to join Herbert Smith Freehills in Australia this year. In January 2022, partner Aaron White, relocated from the firm’s London office to Brisbane.
Aaron was promoted to partner in Herbert Smith Freehills’ London office in 2020 and the firm is pleased to welcome him back to Australia after more than a decade living and working in London.
Aaron has 17 years’ experience advising in the international telecoms and tech sectors, including through spending a number of years working in a senior in house role at Telefonica.
He provides sophisticated counsel to private and publicly-traded companies, private capital sponsors, venture capital investors and high growth tech-enabled companies on technology and telecoms M&A transactions, joint ventures, spinoffs, minority investments, corporate restructurings, projects and other corporate transactions.
He also has experience guiding and counselling companies in evaluating, structuring, drafting and negotiating strategic technology and other licensing transactions.
