Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed two partners in Australia, further bolstering its market-leading financial services practice. Maged Girgis and Andrew Bradley, both currently partners at Minter Ellison, will join Herbert Smith Freehills in Sydney.
They will work closely with the firm’s existing team of experts including leading superannuation partner Michael Vrisakis and consultant Ruth Stringer to support the firm’s financial services clients.
Maged Girgis has almost 30 years’ experience in financial services law specialising in superannuation and life insurance, financial services regulation and governance, and regulatory interventions and disputes.
He has acted on some of the country’s most significant life insurance and superannuation fund matters and advised clients across the full spectrum of the financial services industry including industry, retail and public sector superannuation funds, life insurance companies, investment managers and other financial institutions as well as employers.
Andrew is a financial services partner with expertise in all aspects of financial services regulation and regularly acts for a broad range of clients including superannuation trustees, life insurers, wrap platform operators, investment managers, administrators and custodians. Andrew has almost 25 years’ experience in the financial services industry, having worked in a range of in-house roles before commencing private practice in 2006.
Herbert Smith Freehills’ Managing Partner, Corporate, Carolyn Pugsley, said: “I am extremely pleased to welcome Maged and Andrew to Herbert Smith Freehills. We’ve been looking for the right partners to help us pursue the wide range of opportunities that exist in the financial services space, including partnering more closely within superannuation funds as their role and influence in Australian and global markets expands.
“Mag is one of the country's most respected financial services lawyers. His track record speaks for itself and the depth and breadth of his expertise can perhaps only be matched by that of our existing partners in this space. He is especially highly regarded as a leading strategic adviser in industry fund circles and he will bring significant expertise to bear for our industry fund clients.
“Andrew is a next-generation leading superannuation lawyer with that essential combination of technical excellence and commercial sensibility our clients are seeking from their financial services advisors.”
Maged and Andrew will complement the existing strength of our team, working closely with the firm’s existing team of partners supporting financial services clients.
Maged said: “Joining Herbert Smith Freehills gives us the opportunity of creating something that is greater than the sum of its parts. With the continued consolidation of the financial services industry and clients increasingly looking for opportunities offshore, I am particularly excited by the prospect of working with the full range of HSF’s experts across its global network of offices.”
Andrew added: “I am delighted to be joining the team at Herbert Smith Freehills and excited by the prospect of working with such a deep and talented team of lawyers to deliver unparalleled service to clients in the financial services industry.”