Austin Sweeney

Lay Governor

Austin graduated with an undergraduate degree in History from Edinburgh University in 1991 and a masters in Law from Bristol University in 1993. He then joined the international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills and qualified as a solicitor in 1996.

Austin practised as a corporate lawyer in London and Tokyo specialising in acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and other corporate finance transactions. He also acted as one of his firm's graduate recruitment partners before relocating to Singapore in 2008 in order to take up the role of Managing Partner in South East Asia. Over the course of the next four years he was responsible for developing a growth strategy across that region encompassing disputes, energy and finance.

In 2012 Austin moved to Hong Kong and became leader of his firm's corporate practice in Asia, responsible for the restructuring and development of a team spread across nine offices.

After 26 years with Herbert Smith Freehills, in 2020 Austin retired as a partner but continues as a consultant to act as mentor to a number of young lawyers and as a corporate advisor.