A Sydney firm has paid tribute to a promising young lawyer after his death in a suspected hit-and-run incident in the city’s east.

Emergency services were called to Fletcher Street in Tamarama shortly after 4am on Sunday, when they found an injured 28-year-old man.

Paramedics performed CPR but were unable to revive the man who died at the scene, police said.

“We don’t believe the deceased was on any sort of vehicle, it appears that he may have been a pedestrian,” Detective Superintendent Adam Soloh said on Sunday.

“The family are obviously very upset and distraught and our hearts go out to them having to find out such difficult news, so they are aware of what’s occurred.”

While the man is yet to be formally identified, he is believed to be Mitch East, an employee at Sydney law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler.

Lawyer Mitch East has been identified as the man killed in a hit and run in Sydney. Photo: LinkedIn

A spokeswoman for the firm said staff had been informed of the 28-year-old’s death on Monday morning.

“In an email sent to all staff this morning, Arnold Bloch Leibler’s managing partner Henry Lanzer and managing Sydney partner Paul Rubenstein paid tribute to Mitch, describing him as a highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt,” the spokeswoman said.

“The partners expressed heartfelt condolences to Mitch’s parents, his partner and many close friends, both within and outside of (the firm).”

East graduated from Harvard Law School in 2022 after studying and beginning his legal career in New Zealand, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Specialists from the NSW Police Crash Investigation Unit have taken over the case but are yet to make any arrests.

“At this stage, our inquiries are focussing on a Subaru Outback that we’ve captured on CCTV around the time of the crash,” NSW police inspector Josh Hogan told Seven’s Sunrise on Monday.

“We’re making all inquiries with the local detectives of the eastern suburbs police area command.

“We would urge the driver to come forward.

“At this stage, it’s a cowardly act to drive away after colliding with another human.”

Investigators have appealed to the public for any relevant information, CCTV or dashcam footage that could assist police.

New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed consular officials were aware of East’s death.

“We extend our sympathies to their family at this difficult time,” a spokesperson said.

– with AAP