HWL Ebsworth Lawyers has hired Josh Messing as a partner in its technology, media and communications team in Sydney. He was formerly a senior associate at Herbert Smith Freehills. He spent about eight years in Minter Ellison’s TMT team before this. 

Messing’s practice focuses on negotiating strategic outsourcing and IT contracts, M&A, joint ventures, business process enhancements, distribution agreements, telecommunications projects and general procurement. He advises leading Australian and multinational organisations in a range of industries, including telecommunications, information technology, energy and resources, insurance, real estate, media, transport and government.

It is the second partner hire for HWL Ebsworth this month. On February 1, Maria Townsend joined the commercial team in Sydney from Hunt & Hunt.

Townsend’s commercial and financing practice focuses on the automotive sector. She advises on acquisitions and disposals, commercial leases, restructures, contracts, financing and compliance related matters, particularly in relation to automotive dealership businesses. Her clients include lenders, whom she advises on all aspects of financial structuring and the documentation of loans and security products. Her expertise also extends to the transport, real estate, information technology and telecommunications sectors.