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Freehills appoints new Litigation practice group head

13 May 2005

Freehills has announced the appointment of Mr Keith Steele as the firm's new Litigation practice group head, effective from 1 July 2005.

Mr Steele replaces former Litigation practice group head, Mr Peter Butler, who has taken on the role of managing partner and will closely support the firm's recently appointed chief executive officer, Gavin Bell.

Mr Steele has been with the firm for 28 years, having joined Freehills' Litigation group in Sydney in 1977. Since joining the firm, he has practised extensively in the area of commercial dispute resolution and litigation (including arbitration), and has developed specialist expertise in commercial and resources contracts, cross-border disputes, product liability, public law and international trade remedy law.

In making the announcement, Freehills' outgoing chief executive officer, Peter Hay, said he is delighted that Keith has agreed to assume this pivotal role within the firm. 'The role will involve, among other things, client relationship management for a number of the firm's key clients, and the career development of over 300 partners and solicitors within the group. With many years of experience within the firm and having seen many evolutions of the development of our people and our processes, Keith is exceptionally well placed to fulfil this mentor role for the group.'

Mr Hay went on to say, 'Our Litigation practice, under the strong leadership of Peter Butler, is widely acknowledged within the market and is stronger than ever, and Keith will continue to build on that strength of presence'.

In speaking about his new role, Mr Steele said he is looking forward to continuing to practise as well as lead the Litigation group and the strong line—up of professionals who comprise the team. His focus will be on ensuring a continuation of the high levels of technical excellence and the commercially astute strategic approach which the group's clients are accustomed to, and on ensuring that '… we all do what we need to do, head where we need to head, achieve what we all aspire for, and enjoy it'.

Mr Steele added that there are some things that are engendered within Freehills' Litigation group that he would never look to change.

'A strong and values-based culture of teamwork, mutual support and sharing, and energetic professional commitment and passion to be the best we can be. That has been at the core of our success and we must not lose it,' he said.

Keith Steele

Industry experience

Mr Steele's practice in major commercial litigation over the past 28 years has involved a range of jurisdictions including the Supreme Court of New South Wales, the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia. He has acted in many major commercial disputes in both superior courts and arbitration as well as international trade remedy cases including many anti-dumping and subsidy cases. He has also advised in matters before the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organisation.

Recent examples of major cases include acting for:

Australian Gas Light Company (AGL) against Singtel Optus concerning the acquisition of Telco Dingo Blue
AGL concerning the coronial inquiry into the Canberra Fires
CSR Limited in asbestos coverage cross-border litigation against public liability insurers in the High Court and, in the Federal District Court proceedings in New Jersey as Australian counsel
Phillips Petroleum and ConocoPhillips in major private and public law litigation in Australia and the United States concerning the validity and justiciability of claims relating to the Timor Gap Treaty and exploration concessions
Mr Brian Wilson concerning the McCabe/British American Tobacco litigation.

Professional background

Mr Steele joined the Freehills litigation group in Sydney in 1977 after four years with the Crown Solicitor's office in Auckland, New Zealand, where he represented many New Zealand Government agencies in both criminal prosecutions and civil actions.

He was chairman of the Customs Law Committee of the Law Council of Australia from 1984 to 1989. He has served as a member of the Administrative Law Committee of the New South Wales Law Society and the Law Council of Australia. He has also been a member of the International Trade and Business Committee of the Law Council. He is a past chairman of the sub-committee on trade for the International Bar Association and a past vice-chairman of Committee O (international litigation) of the IBA.

He is a director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration.

A Girdlers Scholar and a graduate of Cambridge University (where he also gained a double Blue in cricket and rugby), he became a partner of Freehills in 1980. As the Sydney chairman and senior partner of the firm (1997–2001) he played a lead role in the national integration of Freehills in 2000.

ENDS

For further information, contact

Margaret St Clair
Public Affairs Coordinator
Telephone 61 3 9288 1368
margaret.st.clair@freehills.com

This article provides a summary only of the subject matter covered, without the assumption of a duty of care by Freehills or Freehills Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys. The summary is not intended to be nor should it be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other professional advice.

Copyright in this article is owned by Freehills or Freehills Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys. For permission to reproduce articles, please contact Freehills' Public Affairs Coordinator, Megan Williams, on 61 3 9288 1132.