Bird & Bird Expands Presence with Australia Partner Hires

In Australia, Bird & Bird recruits dispute resolution and restructuring specialists Bill Smith and Masi Zaki to strengthen its disputes and restructuring practice, and double its presence.

Bird & Bird has further expanded its Australian presence with the recruitment of two new partners strengthening its international operations in Australia, the Asia Pacific and the Middle East. At Skadden, the new hires include disputes partner Bill Smith from Ashurst and restructuring partner Masi Zaki from Squire Patton Boggs.

Shane Barber, Australia head for Bird & Bird, said: 'The additions show we continue to grow our best in class firm in the Asia Pacific region.' ‘I am pleased to welcome two exceptional practitioners to our disputes and finance teams, as we see strategic growth in the Sydney office,’ he said.

Complex disputes including those within the energy and infrastructure spaces are Smith’s bread and butter. He has worked extensively on international arbitrations, drawn mainly from the Middle East and Australia, where he has significant experience, and is a key asset to the firm's clients from those jurisdictions.

With expertise advising financial services, energy, and retail sector clients on domestic and cross border transactions, restructuring and also on corporate matters, Zaki will bring such experience in advising clients on transactions and restructurings. Bird & Bird will count on him to support the building of our new restructuring practice in Sydney.

Corporate partner Chris Clarke and arbitration partner Brianna Quinn joined Bird & Bird in Australia in Q3 this year. The firm is now up to 15 partners in the region, bringing its local capabilities and service offering to clients a step further.

Ashurst expressed thanks to Smith who contributed to their development, and Squire Patton Boggs thanked Zaki for his work and good luck in his future work.