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Gilbert + Tobin names 4 new partners, 7 new special counsel

Days out from already announced changes to its executive leadership, national law firm Gilbert + Tobin has promoted 11 lawyers to partner and special counsel roles.

user iconJerome Doraisamy 28 June 2023 Big Law
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Gilbert + Tobin has grown its partnership by four and has named seven new special counsel ahead of the new financial year. The promotions are in the firm’s corporate advisory, disputes and investigations, banking, and projects practices.

The firm’s new partners are Ilona Hunnisett, Sam Kings, Anna Schwartz, and Catherine Kelso.

And its new special counsel are Erin Cartledge, Roy Groom, James Frixou, Stephanie Essey, Richard L’Estrange, Maria Eger, and Xavier Keary.

The promotions come as the firm embarks on a new leadership era, with Danny Gilbert set to step down as managing partner, as announced earlier last year.

As reported by Lawyers Weekly in November 2022, Mr Gilbert will transition into the role of firm chair, while partner and current chief operating officer Sam Nickless will become chief executive, and partner and board member Tim Gordon will be the new executive partner.

Speaking about the promotions — which are effective as of 1 July — Mr Gilbert said: “Congratulations to these outstanding people on their promotions. We recognise their capabilities, hard work and commitment to the culture, energy and continued success of our firm."

“We warmly welcome this group to the partnership and senior cohort.”

The news follows the firm’s hiring of a financial services partner from BigLaw rival Ashurst in mid-April.

The news also follows recent promotions rounds in the profession, including: Russell Kennedy’s promotion of 18, earlier this morning (Wednesday, 28 June); Slater and Gordon promoting 47, earlier today; Holman Webb elevating eight and nabbing three new partners from BigLaw rivals, as reported this afternoon; Herbert Smith Freehills’ elevation of 46 to senior associate yesterday (Tuesday, 27 June); the promotion of 12, including three to partner, at Arnold Bloch Leibler, also on Tuesday; Holding Redlich’s promotion of 41 lawyers to more senior roles, also yesterday; Hamilton Locke’s elevation of 14 across its firm and one in its allied business, on Tuesday; HopgoodGanim’s promotion of 25, including four to partner on Monday, 26 June; Hicksons’ promotion of 10, also on Monday; McCabes’ elevation of 13 to more senior roles, also on Monday; King & Wood Mallesons’ promotion of 77 lawyers, including 44 to senior associate, on Friday, 23 June; Wotton + Kearney elevated 34, including four to partner, also on Friday; Barry Nilsson promoting 21 on Thursday, 22 June; Hall & Wilcox promoting 48, including five to partner, on Wednesday, 21 June; McCullough Robertson elevated 17 lawyers, including two to partner, on Tuesday, 20 June; 55 being promoted as part of Mills Oakley’s EOFY promotions round on Monday, 19 June; the promotion of 23 at Thomson Geer on the same day; the elevation of 26 to more senior roles at Piper Alderman, also on the 19th; six new partners in Australia at King & Wood Mallesons announced on 16 June; the promotion of seven to partner at Gadens on 15 June; the elevation of 18 at the start of June at Johnson Winter Slattery, followed by its promotion of five to partner in late June; 35 senior promotions at Lander & Rogers in early June; four senior hires for MinterEllison’s consulting arm earlier this month; seven to partner at Moray & Agnew in late May; three new partners at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, also in late May; seven named as special counsel at Clyde & Co in early May; two new partners at DLA Piper as announced in late April; three new partners at Allen & Overy from April; seven to counsel roles at Herbert Smith Freehills in the same week and 10 to partner in Australia a week earlier; and the elevation of 13 to the partnership at Ashurst in mid-April.

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.

You can email Jerome at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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