HWLE Lawyers is set to significantly expand its Tasmanian footprint through the acquisition of independent law firm Ogilvie Jennings, effective 2 February 2026.

With a history dating back to 1937, Ogilvie Jennings has a long-standing reputation for delivering exceptional legal services across Tasmania.

The integration will see three new partners, Imogen Cook, Anthony Laning and Che Mohamad, join HWLE, along with the majority of Ogilvie Jennings’ team. Together, they will strengthen HWLE’s capabilities across five practice areas: Property & Conveyancing, Commercial & Corporate, Construction, Wills & Estates, and Litigation & Dispute Resolution. The firm’s Family Law practice will not form part of the acquisition.

This move will double the size of HWLE’s Hobart team, enhancing its ability to provide comprehensive legal services to clients locally and nationally.

Russell Mailler, Chief Executive Partner of HWLE Lawyers, said:

“This acquisition represents an important step in our strategic growth plan. By welcoming Ogilvie Jennings’ talented team, we are enhancing our ability to deliver a full suite of legal services to clients across Australia, while maintaining the strong local expertise that our Tasmanian clients value.”

“Ogilvie Jennings has been a respected part of the legal landscape in Tasmania for a very long time, with a reputation for quality client relationships and deep local knowledge. This move brings together our teams to create new opportunities for our people and strengthen the support we provide to clients in Tasmania” said Hobart partner Sarah Sealy.

Ogilvie Jennings Directors Imogen Cook and Anthony Laning commented:

“We are excited to join HWLE and continue serving our clients with the same dedication and quality they have come to expect. This transition will provide our team with access to a national platform, giving us the opportunity to contribute to matters of national significance, in addition to continuing to serve our existing client base, which is an exciting development for both our people and our clients.”

This acquisition follows HWLE’s recent expansion in South Australia through its acquisition of Botten Levinson in August 2025, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to strategic growth and delivering exceptional service nationwide.

Note to Editors:

HWLE is the largest legal partnership in Australia according to the most recent partnership surveys published by the Australian Financial Review.

The firm comprises 1,833, staff including 286 Partners, 1,128 other legal staff and 419 support staff across offices in nine locations – Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Melbourne, Hobart, Norwest (Northwest Sydney), Perth and Sydney.

HWLE is an independent, nationally integrated, full service commercial law firm, providing tailored and commercially oriented legal services.

HWLE operates a different business model to the other leading national law practices, and this allows us to offer unrivalled value for money without compromising quality and service. Our low ratio of solicitors to partners ensures that our clients receive optimal access to partner resources for all matters.

For further information, please contact:

Russell Mailler, Chief Executive Partner (03) 8644 3569 or rmailler@hwle.com.au

Angelique Kear, Head of Marketing (02) 9334 8541 or akear@hwle.com.au