Queensland law firm, McInnes Wilson Lawyers, has appointed two new solicitors and two new associates. Danielle Natoli joins McInnes Wilson as an associate in the insurance litigation division. She has extensive experience working on the conduct of claims for compensation and/or damages under the Workers’ Compensation Act 1990 and WorkCover Queensland Act 1996 on behalf of injured workers. David Shannon also joins the firm’s insurance litigation division as an associate. He previously worked at Hopgood Ganim Lawyers. His areas of expertise include personal injuries litigation, workers’ compensation, common law litigation and insurance litigation. Leanne Hansen joins McInnes Wilson’s plaintiff litigation division as a solicitor. Previously employed at Trilby Misso, she specialised in plaintiff personal injuries. Also new to the firm’s plaintiff litigation division is solicitor, Daniel Williams. He has extensive experience in plaintiff matters including WorkCover, motor vehicle accident and public liability.

Phillips Fox has boosted its technology media and communications practice in its Sydney office with the addition of Dan Brush, special counsel. Brush has an extensive background in the North American technology industry, and advises organisations with issues relating to the telecommunication, e-commerce and media sectors. He has additional expertise in broadcasting law, intellectual property, competition law, and corporate and tax structuring. He previously worked as general counsel of Excite@Home Corporation, a California-based internet portal and broadband ISP.

Fiona Allen has joined MacGillivrays as a solicitor in its commercial banking services area. In June 2005, Allen moved from Invercargill, New Zealand where she was an associate with AWS Legal. She is experienced in a wide range of complex commercial transactions for banking, finance and equity investors.

Cutler Hughes & Harris has appointed banking and finance lawyer, John Driscoll, as a partner. The appointment extends Cutler’s services to the banking sector, adding to the firm’s established finance, tax, commercial and insolvency practices. Driscoll’s experience includes establishing domestic and offshore debt issuance programs for financiers, corporations and government agencies, and acting for financiers in infrastructure developments.