03 August 2026 
Maddocks announced today that it has appointed Paul Saward as a new Partner in the Commercial – Banking & Finance practice of its Melbourne office.
Paul joins the firm after a decade as a Partner at PwC, and over 11 years prior to that at Herbert Smith Freehills. He is a well-regarded banking and finance lawyer with over 23 years’ experience, focusing on property finance, structured & asset finance, and complex corporate finance transactions. Paul has advised a range of financiers and borrowers – including private credit funds, banks, family offices, property developers and corporates – and has developed deep, long-term client relationships in these sectors.
Paul’s arrival comes at a time of increasing demand for non-bank lending and private credit expertise in the Australian market.
Commenting on the appointment, Maddocks CEO Paul Woods said:
“Paul’s appointment will significantly strengthen the firm’s focus on private credit and complex financing transactions, providing our clients with access to his deep knowledge and extensive experience in this space. Maddocks’ Banking & Finance practice already has a strong reputation, and Paul’s arrival will further bolster its offering as we support clients in an evolving market. We are delighted to welcome Paul as a new Partner, whose expertise will help shape our client offering for many years to come.”
Maddocks Banking & Finance Partner Ilan Kraus added:
“Paul’s strong relationships with private credit financiers are highly complementary to our existing practice. His presence adds additional depth and capacity that will allow us to service multiple complex transactions concurrently and deliver even greater value to our clients. We expect that Paul’s arrival will be very well received by our clients and will open new opportunities for growth in our practice.”
Paul Saward also commented on his appointment:
“Maddocks is the collaborative and dynamic partnership I have been seeking, with the strong real estate, construction, corporate, insolvency and tax capabilities that my clients require. I am truly excited to join the firm and leverage its platform to explore new opportunities for growth together. As one of Australia’s most respected independent firms, Maddocks offers an ideal environment for me to continue expanding and evolving my practice and to support our clients’ ambitions.”
Paul will be joined at Maddocks by Senior Associate, Daniel Pederick.
This article was originally found on the Maddocks website and can be found by clicking here.
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