UK Business + Law News - HFW's Senior Partner, Roderic O'Sullivan, will retire on 30 April 2007, after 36 years as a partner in the firm. Richard Crump will join HFW's Managing Partner, Greg Gray, and Deputy/International Partner, Marcus Bowman, who have both been re-elected, unopposed, for further terms in office.

Roderic has been a Partner at HFW since 1973 and he became Senior Partner in 2003 - his practice having centred on advising international transport and energy companies. His appointment as Senior Partner coincided with the restructuring of HFW into industry focussed practice groups. Apart from London, HFW has offices in Paris/Rouen, Piraeus, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai and in 2006 opened offices in Dubai and Melbourne.

Richard is recognised by the independent legal directories as a shipping lawyer who is a market leader in his field. He joined HFW as a trainee in 1979, becoming a partner in 1987. Chambers UK 2007 directory says "Richard Crump is the 'perfect all rounder" and is recommended for traditional dry work and major casualty cases. His reputation is built on a 'straightforward practical and intelligent' approach".

In December 2006 HFW was awarded the Chambers Global Shipping Law Firm of the Year Award.

Roderic said 'It will be with very great pleasure that I hand over to Richard Crump whom I have known since 1978 when interviewing him to join our firm whilst he was an undergraduate at Oriel College Oxford. His formidable contribution and commitment to HFW has been justly rewarded with his election to the Senior Partner role".

Richard comments "When I joined HFW in 1979 there were 16 Partners and offices in Paris and Hong Kong in addition to London. There are now 97 Partners and the firm has nine global offices. It is a great privilege to be associated with this dynamic firm which I believe is well placed for the future. I look forward to continuing to develop and expand the business, with my Partners, in our chosen fields. Globalisation and the expansion of international trade have favoured our core areas of Shipping & Transport, Trade & Energy and Insurance & Reinsurance together with our Corporate & Commercial capability and we will seek to capitalise on this further".

Greg Gray added "I have great respect for Richard, having been in practice with him for over 20 years. I have no doubt that together we will be able to further the interests of our worldwide clientele, as HFW approaches its 125th year".

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