Norton Rose Fulbright adds experienced government advisor in Canberra
Australia | People | May 14, 2018
Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright announced today that senior government advisor and lawyer Bill Conley has joined its Canberra office.
Mr Conley has spent more than 20 years providing commercial and legal advice to Commonwealth government agencies, principally the Departments of Defence and Finance. He was a long-term partner of Ashurst and a former Canberra managing partner, and more recently was a consultant at King & Wood Mallesons in Canberra and Sydney.
Mr Conley will work closely with Norton Rose Fulbright’s national head of government and deputy managing partner Michael Greene, who is based in both Canberra and Sydney, along with the firm’s large national team of government advisors. Mr Conley joined in Canberra as a senior consultant.
His work with government departments includes strategic commercial and legal advice, and contract drafting and negotiation in the procurement of major capital equipment including ships, submarines, aircraft and vehicles, as well as their sustainment.
He has provided advice on a wide range of Commonwealth and State legislation and policy, including elements of the Commonwealth accountability framework (PGPA Act, ANAO audits and Parliamentary inquiries)* and the establishment and operation of Commonwealth-owned corporations and other Commonwealth entities. Other work has comprised scoping studies, strategic reviews, corporate acquisitions, establishment and restructurings of Commonwealth-owned corporations, privatisations and asset sales.
Mr Greene commented:
“Our extended Commonwealth and state government teams play a crucial role in advising government departments and agencies, which are among our most valued clients. We are pleased to have someone of Bill’s experience join our government practice and our Canberra office. We will work with him to keep meeting the needs of Commonwealth and state organisations and those that work in the broader government sector.”
Mr Conley commented:
“Norton Rose Fulbright has a depth of experience in not just government advice, but an important range of services relevant to government projects and operations, such as procurement (including contract drafting and negotiation, as well as strategic advice), Commonwealth and state regulation and dispute resolution, particularly in the areas of ITC, infrastructure, construction and real estate. I look forward to working with the team.”
Recent lateral partners to join the firm include Andrew Battisson, Natasha Toholka, Penelope Ford, Phillipa Beck, Gavin Scott, Ann Donohue, Natalie Lonergan, Jasmine Sprange, Martin Irwin, Adam Edelman and Shamim Razavi (from our Indonesian associate firm, TNB & Partners).
