Norton Rose Fulbright appoints experienced global funds management partner Liz Hastilow in Sydney

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright today welcomes new corporate and investment funds partner Liz Hastilow in Sydney.

Liz is a highly regarded and experienced practitioner in the financial services industry, with a 25-year career in private practice and more recently in-house at one of Australia’s largest funds management businesses, First Sentier Investors (formerly Colonial First State Global Asset Management) where she guided the $213 billion AUM* global business through a complex trade sale to Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation as global chief legal and risk officer.

While at First Sentier Investors, Liz established the global risk management, legal, insurance, compliance and governance functions and steered many of the firm’s strategies as a member of the global executive committee. Alongside these functions, Liz was also managing director of the Australian and NZ business overseeing an office of circa 400 people and led the development and launch of a suite of new products for the business. Liz was a member of the Global Investment Committee and chair of the Global Risk Committee of First Sentier Investors.

Liz is an alumnus and former partner of Henry Davis York, which combined with Norton Rose Fulbright in 2017. She also worked at international law firm K&L Gates where she was a partner and co-led the global financial services practice.

Liz has been a long-term, trusted adviser to investment management businesses operating in Australia advising on major cross-border M&A, new business establishment, joint venture arrangements, transition and integration arrangements, global board and governance arrangements as well as product development, investment fund structuring, distribution, governance and reporting, across all major asset classes. Liz has represented clients in regulatory interactions, investigations and approvals and led a number of submissions to government on regulatory reforms impacting the industry.

Liz has executive and non-executive board experience, including as a director on an infrastructure asset management responsible entity and trustee board; a number of AFS licensee investment management boards; and investment company and services company boards. Liz was also a director on the Financial Services Council board and its inaugural co-chair of its Funds Management Board Committee.

Norton Rose Fulbright chief executive partner in Australia, Alison Deitz, commented:

“Liz is a rare candidate in the market given the depth of experience she has gained working client-side in financial services and in private practice over such a substantial and high-profile career. Her impressive international experience, and familiarity with global business leadership, legal, regulatory and risk issues, will be hugely valuable to our domestic and overseas clients and the lawyers she will mentor.”

Liz Hastilow commented:

“The global investment and asset management industry is in a period of significant change and regulatory settings around the world continue to become more complex. The need for cross-border investment flows and smart investment solutions including into new and developing asset classes such as renewables infrastructure and technology and natural assets continues, despite geopolitical challenges. I am thrilled to be joining Norton Rose Fulbright, a global law firm with the depth and breadth of expertise to be able to help our clients navigate the opportunities and challenges in this changing but exciting environment.”

This announcement marks the fifth consecutive woman appointed to the Australian partnership, following the appointment of Astrid Beemster in October 2023 and promotion to the partnership of Kellie Link, Maria Panos and Jacqueline Plant in January of this year.

Other additions to the Australian partnership in 2023 were: insolvency and restructuring partner Jenna Scott (Brisbane); consumer markets partner Nick Rimington (Melbourne); projects and construction partner Ben Bradstreet (Perth); financial crime partner Sonja Marsic (Sydney); corporate M&A partners Michael O’Neill and Tuanh Nguyen (Melbourne); international arbitration partner Daniel Allman (Sydney); cross-border litigation partner Paul Devlin (Perth); and projects and construction partner Glen Warwick (Sydney).

* As at 30 September 2023