Prominent Perth lawyers Jason Ricketts, David Hugo and Tony Joyner have teamed up for the launch of an independent firm providing a mix of legal and consultancy services.
Prominent Perth lawyers Jason Ricketts, David Hugo and Tony Joyner have teamed up for the launch of an independent firm providing a mix of legal and consultancy services.
Chord Advisory will be chaired by Mr Ricketts, who was most recently general counsel of the Forrest family's Minderoo Foundation and Tattarang group of companies.
Its managing director will be Mr Hugo, who has been quietly operating under the new brand for most of this year servicing some long-standing clients.
Chord’s public launch today coincides with the end of his restraint period after resigning last year as a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills.
The common link for all three lawyers is HSF, where Mr Ricketts was a partner for 30 years, serving on its board, global executive and heading its Perth office.
Mr Joyner, who has been engaged as a part-time senior adviser at Chord, also ran HSF’s Perth office during his 30 years with the firm.
Mr Ricketts said Chord would focus on the infrastructure market and would be structured so that clients dealt directly with its principals.
“We know from experience that clients are looking for the right person to be at their side,” he said.
“With the big firms, you don’t always get that.
“Most people just want to work with the partner.”
He claims Chord can match the expertise offered by big firms but without the overheads and bureaucracy.
“We intend to utilise specialisation, experience and a uniquely nimble structure to offer clients something new,” Mr Ricketts said.
He said Chord would be more than a law firm.
It would look to compete with the big consulting and accounting firms by providing advice on infrastructure projects, in areas like procurement models and risk assessment.
Mr Ricketts said he and Mr Joyner would also provide advice drawing on their experience managing a large professional services firm.
This could be in areas like performance management, remuneration and admission of partners.
“We lived that for twenty-five years,” he said.
Mr Ricketts left his general counsel role last December after nearly five years but continues as a non-executive director of Tattarang subsidiaries Squadron Energy and Wyloo.
Mr Joyner retired from HSF in 2024 and is currently chair of Committee for Perth and Lions Eye Institute.
Mr Hugo said he anticipated building Chord’s Perth team to between a dozen and 20 people.
The first recruit is managing associate Alannah Lofthouse, who also worked at HSF before taking in-house roles in the health sector.
Chord would also look to recruit people in other cities but Mr Hugo emphasised this would be driven by the needs of clients.
Mr Hugo, who was a partner at HSF for 15 years, has worked for clients including DP World and Rio Tinto.
His current work includes advising the WA government on the proposed redevelopment of the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
He also advises on public private partnerships in WA’s health sector, where Ramsay Health Care and St John of God Health Care are contracted to deliver public health services.
“With infrastructure in industries such as health and energy expected to boom over the next two decades, we believe we will be in a sweet spot for growth,” Mr Hugo said.
“By also offering consulting services and non-traditional services such as virtual general counsel services and partner level secondments, we believe we stand out as a leading example of the next generation legal advisory firm.”
The firm is named after the unique chord planform wing design of a Spitfire fighter aircraft, with the founders aiming to bring the same spirit of flexibility and innovation to their market.
