Clyde & Co has announced the return of Yvonne Lam (pictured) as a partner in its Australian office, aiming to strengthen its corporate insurance and regulatory capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region.
Lam rejoins the firm after her tenure at Gilchrist Connell, where she led the corporate insurance & insurtech team.
Her new role will involve advising clients on transactional, regulatory, and commercial matters, with a particular emphasis on the evolving insurance risk and regulatory environment in Australia and Singapore.
Lam’s experience spans more than a decade in corporate insurance and regulatory law, including involvement in the Financial Services Royal Commission hearings and major transactions resulting from global mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructures, and market entries.
Her client portfolio includes insurers, reinsurers, underwriting agencies, brokers, and companies in the insurtech and fintech sectors across the Asia-Pacific.
Throughout her career, Lam has received recognition for her work, having been named a finalist in several legal industry awards, including the Lawyers Weekly New Partner of the Year Awards (Big Law, 2025), Women in Law Awards for Partner of the Year (Big Law, 2024), and the Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards for Commercial Law (2018).
She also serves as the NSW branch president of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association and was a finalist in the Legal & Professionals category of the Asian Australian Leadership Awards in 2024.
Rebecca Kelly, Australia managing partner at Clyde & Co, said Lam’s return represents a significant development for the firm’s corporate insurance and regulatory team, both in Australia and throughout the Asia-Pacific.
“With our enhanced capabilities, we are strongly positioned to support our clients in managing risk, responding to regulatory change, and navigating the complexities of today’s corporate landscape. Our clients rely on us for clear, commercially focused advice, and this appointment ensures we continue to deliver with confidence and clarity,” she said.
Gareth Horne, head of insurance, Australia, added: “This growth will allow us to seize the opportunities arising from the rapidly changing regulatory environment, where we see strong client demand for help with navigating the evolving risk landscape.”
Lam commented: “I am pleased to return to Clyde & Co and draw on the firm’s global platform and international reach particularly for my clients in the Asia-Pacific region, who operate across multiple jurisdictions and in complex regulatory environments.”
Lam’s appointment is part of Clyde & Co’s ongoing strategy to enhance its transactional, corporate, and regulatory services for insurance clients in Australia and throughout Asia-Pacific.
The firm’s insurance practice includes more than 2,400 lawyers across over 70 offices, providing support across all lines of insurance business and helping clients manage risk in a changing environment.
Meanwhile, Sparke Helmore has appointed Sophie Pennington as a partner in its specialty lines insurance team, effective Oct. 14.
Pennington brings experience in health law, advising public hospitals through the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, as well as medical practitioners and private health providers through their insurers and defence organisations.
Pennington’s work includes handling both litigated and unlitigated civil claims, coronial investigations, inquests, and disciplinary matters. She also advises insurers on indemnity, contribution, apportionment, and risk management issues within the health sector.
Pennington has been recognised as a Leading Medical Negligence and Malpractice Lawyer (Defendant) in Doyle’s Guide.
Before returning to private practice over nine years ago, Pennington was head of medical defence and services at Avant, Australia’s largest medical defence organisation.
Her combined experience in in-house and private practice roles provides her with a broad perspective on the medico-legal challenges faced by health professionals and insurers.
Pennington is joined by two lawyers, further building Sparke Helmore’s expertise in this area. The team will be based in Melbourne.
Marie-Clare Elder, health group leader at Sparke Helmore, said: “We are excited to welcome Sophie and her team to Sparke Helmore. She brings a wealth of experience to our market-leading health team, deepening our local and national coverage and reinforcing our commitment to the broader health sector both in Australia and internationally.”
Pennington said: “I am passionate about health law and believe it’s imperative to strike a balance between recognising the work of health professionals and ensuring patient safety. Joining a firm with such a strong culture while continuing to do the work I love is a win-win.”
The addition of Pennington and her team is part of Sparke Helmore’s strategy to strengthen its presence in health and specialty lines insurance, supporting clients across Australia and internationally.
