Clayton Utz Expands Commercial Litigation Practice With New Insurance Disputes Partner

Clayton Utz Expands Commercial Litigation Practice With New Insurance Disputes Partner

Clayton Utz has further strengthened its commercial litigation team with the appointment of insurance disputes lawyer Sophy Woodward as a Partner in its Melbourne office.

Greg Williams, national practice group leader and commercial litigation partner, commented on Woodward's arrival, stating, “Sophy’s move to Clayton Utz enhances our long-standing commitment to representing policyholders in insurance disputes and underscores our focus on Melbourne as a growing litigation hub.”

Woodward, who previously served as a partner at the Melbourne office of UK law firm Holman Fenwick Willan (HFW), brings extensive experience in dispute resolution, particularly in insurance and risk management. She advises clients on a range of contentious issues, including contested insurance claims, construction disputes, regulatory investigations, and class actions.

Having started her career at Herbert Smith Freehills, Woodward spent nine years there as a senior associate before joining HFW in 2018 as special counsel, later being promoted to partner in 2022.

This appointment follows Clayton Utz’s recent expansion efforts in August 2024, when the firm hired four partners from MinterEllison to bolster its Canberra office, enhancing its capabilities across commercial litigation, real estate, and the public sector.