Wotton + Kearney to kickstart 2023 with promotion spree

Specialist insurance law firm Wotton + Kearney (W + K) will start 2023 with a bang by making 29 promotions in Australia and New Zealand.

The appointments include new partner Nicole Gabryk (pictured) in the firm’s rapidly growing cyber team.

Nicole Gabryk – cyber, privacy + data security, Sydney

Gabryk is dual qualified and moved from South Africa to Australia. She has significant experience advising on all aspects of cyber insurance – from responding to cyber breach incidents across the globe and implementing strategies to mitigate liability risks to defending complex litigation arising from data breaches.

Additionally, she has advised on cyber incident response management for breaches occurring globally, including in Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Mauritius, Lesotho, the UK, and Europe (under the GDPR).

Commenting on Gabryk’s new role, W + K chief executive partner David Kearney said: “I am delighted to welcome Nicole as a partner and to see our market-leading cyber offering continue to grow.”

Other promoted lawyers

Special counsel

• Aaron Bolton (Financial Lines, Sydney);
• Emily Jones (Financial Lines, Sydney);
• Joseph Vermiglio (General Liability, Sydney);
• and Rosalind Ta’eed (General Liability, Melbourne).

Senior associate

• Alexander Bentley (Property, Energy + Infrastructure, Sydney);
• Arriane Garcia (General Liability, Melbourne);
• Caitlin Paxton (General Liability, Perth);
• Joshua Black (Property, Energy + Infrastructure, Sydney/Melbourne);
• Larissa Sutter (Property, Energy + Infrastructure, Brisbane);
• Laura O’Toole (General Liability, Sydney);
• Michael Hobson (General Liability, Perth);
• Rosie Kapur (Financial Lines, Sydney);
• Sam Akon (General Liability, Sydney);
• Stephen McLoughlin (General Liability, Sydney);
• Thomas Cunningham (Wellington); and
• Tom Ellison (General Liability, Melbourne).

Associate

• Antonia Fox Koob (General Liability, Sydney);
• Chris Abboud (Property, Energy + Infrastructure, Sydney);
• Ella Morrison (Auckland);
• Erin Laird (Financial Lines, Brisbane);
• Gemma Curcio (General Liability, Sydney);
• Isabelle Kwek (Auckland);
• James Gornall (General Liability, Sydney);
• Jessica La (General Liability, Sydney);
• Karim Ibrahim (General Liability, Melbourne);
• Mia Dowie (Property, Energy + Infrastructure, Sydney);
• Nikalett Godina (General Liability, Melbourne); and
• Timothy Litherland (General Liability, Sydney).

Kearney commented: “I congratulate all of our lawyers on their promotions, which reflect and recognise their talents, contribution, and continued commitment to our clients.”

The promotion spree – effective January 1, 2023 – follows W + K’s recent acquisition of Melbourne-based health law firm Ball + Partners.