Ashurst takes two partners from rivals

Ashurst has boosted its Canberra office with two new appointments.

The international firm has welcomed Melanie McKean and Angela Summersby to the partnership. McKean comes from Norton Rose Fulbright, which absorbed the new partner when it merged with legacy Henry Davis York (HDY) in December. Summersby moves from HWL Ebsworth.

The appointments come as Australia’s legal industry proves it is still highly mobile, with the start of the year brimming with lateral hires.

McKean, who moved to HDY in April last year from HWL Ebsworth, is an expert in commercial dispute resolution and public and administrative law. Before HWL Ebsworth, she was also a partner at DLA Phillips Fox, which became DLA Piper.

With 18 years' experience advising and acting for governments, corporate, and private clients, she has extensive experience conducting major investigations for the Australian government.

Summersby has almost 20 years’ experience as a specialist in Australian government work, which has seen her advise on many of the Commonwealth's most recognised projects and programmes, Ashurst said. She has expertise in Australian Government contracting, information and communications technology (ICT) contracts, intellectual property, privacy and business process outsourcing.

Summersby was a long-time lawyer at Ashurst. She started her career at the firm in 1994 and became a partner in 2004. She moved to HWL Ebsworth in 2012.

“Angela and Melanie are both highly regarded legal practitioners with impressive public sector expertise. Their hires support our growth agenda for the Canberra market, while greatly bolstering our government and corporate client service offering,” said Paul Vane-Tempest, Ashurst Canberra managing partner.

An earlier version of the story misidentified the firm as Clifford Chance. We sincerely apologise for the error.

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