Herbert Smith Freehills announces Asia Pacific Leadership Succession

Herbert Smith Freehills has today announced the appointment of Andrew Pike to the role of Regional Managing Partner, Australia, effective from 1 October, 2017

In making the announcement, the firm has also confirmed a structural change to its executive team in the region. From 1 October, the firm’s current joint Regional Managing Partner roles for Asia Pacific will be untied to create two separate roles for Australia and Asia respectively.

Current joint Regional Managing Partner, Australia and Asia, Sue Gilchrist, has successfully maintained her IP disputes practice and continued to attract major IP disputes instructions whilst in the regional leadership role. From 1 October, Sue finishes her term and will return her focus full-time to her practice, and more broadly to the firm’s market-leading IP disputes practice and clients. Justin D’Agostino will continue in the Regional Managing Partner role for Asia as well as his role as Global Head of Practice for Dispute Resolution.

Making the announcement, Chief Executive Officer, Mark Rigotti, said that in considering the best succession strategy for the firm in the region he had taken the view that each sub-region (Asia and Australia) should have a separate regional managing partner, “… to heighten the focus each role can bring to driving a regionally aligned strategy that is agile and tailored to the needs of our diverse markets and clients.”

Mark went on to acknowledge Sue’s achievements during her time in the leadership role and commend her for the great skill, commitment and energy she devoted to the firm.

“As RMP, Sue has led the Australian region strongly, and has been at the forefront of several important business and client initiatives, including bringing the Australia and Asia regions more closely together, and setting the strategic direction of relentless client focus for our Australian business.

“Sue has also made an important contribution to the Global Executive and has been a strong advocate of and role model for the firm's diversity and inclusion efforts, as well as our pro bono and citizenship commitments – in particular championing our collaboration with clients in these important areas,” he went on to say.

“I’m delighted that Andrew has accepted the opportunity to take on this important role with the firm. He will bring strong leadership capabilities and astute insights to the role, and his unwavering client focus and commitment will inspire other future leaders of the firm.

“I’m confident Andrew will lead the firm and our people in Australia well through the next phase of our growth and development,” he continued.

Following today’s announcement, Andrew said: ”I am excited by the challenge and the opportunities that the role will bring. We have a market leading practice and I look forward to working with our talented people to continue delivering exceptional outcomes for our clients.”

Speaking about her experience as Regional Managing Partner, Sue said she was pleased to have had the opportunity to lead the region at this important and exciting time in the firm’s history, and she had been able to bring fresh leadership perspective to the many opportunities and challenges faced by the firm and its clients across the region.

“One of my favourite initiatives that I led in the role is a program of work which reflects our strategic direction of a relentless focus on our clients. Perhaps ironically, but also happily, I now have to walk the talk as my own growing client demands call me back to our leading IP practice and team,” she continued.

“I am handing on the reins to a valued colleague and friend and know the Australian firm is in very capable hands. I wish Andrew all the best in his tenure in the role,” Sue went on to say.