GLOBAL law firm HFW has expanded its Australian shipping capability with the appointment of Joel Cockerell as partner and Hazel Brewer as consultant in its Perth office.
Mr Cockerell, a qualified mariner and former Royal Australian Navy officer, returns to HFW after previously working in the firm’s Singapore office. He brings more than 25 years’ maritime and legal experience across shipping, commodities and offshore energy.
Ms Brewer also returns to HFW, having previously served as a partner and Perth office head. She has more than 30 years’ experience advising clients in shipping, admiralty, marine insurance and international trade.
Both join HFW from Squire Patton Boggs and advise shipowners, charterers, P&I Clubs, hull underwriters, commodity traders, mining companies, offshore operators and marine service providers on a broad range of contentious and non‑contentious matters.
Their arrival follows a period of significant growth for HFW’s global shipping group, which has recently added transactional partners in Paris and London, shipping disputes capability in Australia, and master mariner expertise in Singapore and London.
HFW global head of shipping Paul Dean said the appointments strengthened the firm’s regional and international offering.
“I am delighted to welcome Joel and Hazel back home to HFW. Both are highly respected practitioners whose experience will add further depth to our shipping practice and enhance our ability to support clients across Asia Pacific and internationally.”
Hazel Brewer. Image: HFW
Mr Cockerell’s practice spans wet and dry shipping, marine insurance, offshore energy, litigation and arbitration, salvage, casualties, admiralty proceedings, charterparty disputes, ship construction, regulatory investigations and commercial advisory work. He also advises commodity clients across grains, minerals and metals.
Ms Brewer advises on commodities contracts, charterparties, COAs, bills of lading and carriage issues involving LNG, petroleum, iron ore, nickel and copper. Her experience includes offshore industry contracts, environmental and pollution matters, and arbitration under ICC, LMAA, SIAC and SCMA rules.
HFW Australia managing partner Gavin Vallely said the hires reflected the importance of Western Australia as a global shipping and commodities hub.
“Western Australia is among the world’s leading producers of LNG, minerals and agriproducts, and a critical shipping hub for the export of these commodities and the import of high‑value project cargo. Joel’s seagoing and casualty investigation experience, and his and Hazel’s longstanding industry relationships, local knowledge and international connections will further strengthen our client offering across Australia.”
HFW’s global shipping practice comprises more than 220 lawyers advising clients across dry shipping, admiralty, crisis management, marine insurance, international trade, commodities, financing and transactional matters. The firm has continued to expand its Australian presence, now with 33 partners across four offices, including its most recent Brisbane launch in 2025.