A general insurance and defendant-side dispute resolution firm in Australia has a new chairman.

John Edmond joins Gilchrist Connell as its new chairman, to take charge of the guidance and strategy around the firm’s growth and service offering, both within Australia and in international markets.

Edmond has experience in all areas of insurance law and was a longstanding chair of the Australian Insurance Law Association’s NSW branch. He started his career in insurance law in the UK with Clyde & Co. He then moved to Australia in 1998 with Allens and subsequently established the Australian offices of Clyde & Co.

Managing Principal Richard Wood said Edmond’s appointment will help re-fuel the next stage of the firm’s development strategy, after having successfully grown to around 80 lawyers in its five offices.

“If you’re in our game or the insurance industry more broadly, you know John and how good he is,” Wood said. “We’re really happy to say he’s now part of us and we look forward to the next phase of the firm’s development with John as our chairman.”