Geoff Raby, Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China will step down from his role and join Australian law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth (Corrs) as an adviser and Co-Chair of the firm’s China practice. Raby, who will be based in Beijing, will work closely with fellow China practice co-chair, Adam Handley, who operates out of the firm’s Perth office. Raby will take-up his new role in late August.
Raby served as Australia’s ambassador to the PRC from 2007 - 2011, and worked on many China-Australian cooperation projects such as the launch of ANZ Bank's Chengdu office and the cooperation between Australian MOX Group and the Government of Chengdu. Prior to this, Raby was Deputy Secretary of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2002 to 2006.
Corrs chief executive officer, John Denton, said Raby’s deep knowledge, understanding and contacts within the Chinese government will prove invaluable in helping the firm’s Australian clients position themselves in the Chinese market.
Although Corrs has not yet established a physical presence in Australia, the appointment of Raby may be the first step towards a representative office in the country. Commenting on the likelihood of the firm opening an office in China, Denton remarked “our strategy in China and elsewhere in the region is not based on bricks and mortar but on deep relationships at peak levels in critical jurisdictions". Allens Arthur Robinson, Blake Dawson, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Minter Ellison all have offices in Hong Kong and mainland China.
According to our sister publication, Australian Legal Business’s ALB 30, Corrs is the ninth- largest law firm in Australia with 127 partners and 421 lawyers.ALB
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