Cohen to lead Clayton Utz Perth

Brett Cohen has been appointed partner in charge at Clayton Utz’s Perth office, while Justin Audcent has been promoted to partner Perth corporate finance at RSM.

Formerly Clayton Utz corporate energy & resources partner, Mr Cohen has been appointed to the top job to replace Nick Cooper, who has been appointed as the firm’s national commercial litigation practice group leader.

Mr Cohen joined Clatyon Utz as a graduate in 2003 and has been a corporate partner at the firm for nine years, specialising in the energy and resources sector.

He said he was honoured to be appointed to this role following Mr Cooper, who had done an outstanding job leading the Perth office which had continued to perform strongly, despite COVID-19.

“During Nick's tenure the Perth office has maintained its leading market position and has, along with Clayton Utz nationally, weathered this difficult year exceptionally well,” Mr Cowen said.

“I am looking forward to the challenges and opportunities this role will present over the next few years in ensuring Clayton Utz continues its dominant position in the West Australian legal industry.”

Mr Audcent has been promoted at RSM, after gaining more than 25 years’ experience and completing more than 200 corporate mergers and acquisitions, private equity and capital markets transactions, and international and cross-border deals.

He joined RSM in 2017, having previously held roles at Crowe Horwath, Ernst & Young, and HLB Mann Judd.

Mr Audcent, and two partner appointments in Brisbane and Sydney, take RSM’s partner count to 159.

RSM Australia national chair Jamie O’Rourke said 2020 had demonstrated that expert business advisory and financial management were crucial for organisations looking to survive in the long term.

"This has driven significant growth for RSM and I’m pleased to announce these new partnership appointments in response to that growth and in preparation for further expansion,” Mr O'Rourke said.