After working as an insurance partner at Minter Ellison for six years, and more recently at Kennedys for two years, Mark Doepel decided that he wanted a fresh start and left the firm.

During his time off, several Sydney firms had approached him to discuss work opportunities. "I had a number of irons in the fire but Sparke Helmore was my choice, for its national presence and international reputation. It was already on legal advisory panels and many of their practitioners were well known in the London market, where some of my clients are based," he said.

Having recently joined Sparke Helmore as special counsel, Doepel finds that the firm has values that fit in with his view of the world, one of which is the pressing need for insurance practices to have a national presence. "My clients have been so pleased with Sparke's capability to serve them in other states that most of them have come over with me," he said.

Doepel has advised Lloyd's of London on general insurance matters, and Swiss Re on reinsurance advice.

NSW Roads and Traffic Authority deputy general counsel Michael Najem has also recently joined Sparke Helmore.