KWM continues management shake up with two new practice heads
King & Wood Mallesons has appointed two new practice heads in Australia following the departure of two of its senior partners last month. Sydney-based Tim Bednall, previously chairman of the Australian board, is replacing Tim Blue as head of corporate M&A and tax, whilst Scott Gardiner, managing partner for energy and natural resources and China, also based in Sydney, will add to his responsibilities management of the real estate and construction practice previously overseen by Sue Kench.
June 14, 2013 at 01:59 AM
3 minute read
King & Wood Mallesons has appointed two new practice heads in Australia following the departure of two of its senior partners last month.
Sydney-based Tim Bednall, previously chairman of the Australian board, is replacing Tim Blue as head of corporate M&A and tax, whilst Scott Gardiner, managing partner for energy and natural resources and China, also based in Sydney, will add to his responsibilities management of the real estate and construction practice previously overseen by Sue Kench.
Kench was promoted to country managing partner after the previous head Tony O'Malley, stepped down from the role in May and announced plans to formally retire as a partner at the firm on 31 December this year.
He had been appointed to lead the firm in Australia in January 2012 after 13 years at Mallesons.
Blue also announced his intentions to leave last month, with both exits understood to have occurred due to differences within the board regarding management styles. The firm has declined to comment.
Bednall began his career as a lawyer with Finlaysons in Adelaide, where he made partner before joining Allens Arthur Robinson.
He was head of M&A at Allens before joining Mallesons in 2004, where he was chairman of the Australian board between 2010 and 2012 and oversaw significant changes at the firm, including its combination with China's King & Wood last year.
He was replaced as board chairman by Melbourne-based corporate partner Stephen Minns in February, who took over the role in a bid to push "new ways of thinking" within the firm.
Speaking about Bednall's appointment, Kench commented:
"I am delighted Tim has accepted this position. He is an outstanding lawyer with a strong reputation in both the legal and corporate arenas. He is also a proven leader and will bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the role which will undoubtedly benefit these practice areas and the broader firm strategically in this market.
"Tim was heavily involved with steering the combination with King & Wood last year and as a result, has developed strong relationships with firm's China practice which will help to drive further integration across the combined network.
Gardiner, a projects specialist, leads the firm's China practice and the national energy, resources and projects department, where he oversees the firm's work in the oil and gas, energy and utilities, mining and infrastructure sectors.
He will now take on the additional role of overseeing the real estate, construction, environment and infrastructure practice, which was handled by Kench before she was appointed Australia managing partner last month.
Related: King & Wood Mallesons Australia managing partner steps down
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