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Deloitte appoints new partner as part of its ‘renewed direction’

Melinda Upton, the former global co-chair of DLA Piper’s IP and technology practice, has joined Deloitte as a partner and Australian growth client lead.

user iconJerome Doraisamy 15 April 2024 Big Law
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Editor’s note: Melinda Upton and Lawyers Weekly editor Jerome Doraisamy both sit on the board of the Minds Count Foundation.

Upton’s appointment, Deloitte said in a statement, is “part of a renewed direction” for the firm’s global legal network, aimed at bringing new business value by enhancing the firm’s ability to provide integrated, multidisciplinary solutions to clients.

She brings more than 25 years of IP and leadership experience, deep client relationships, and a solid business network, Deloitte went on.

Upton is the chair of the Minds Count Foundation, is a non-executive director of the Corporate Mental Health Alliance Australia, and served for almost a decade at DLA Piper, including as its Australian managing partner and global co-chair of IP and technology.

Speaking about the appointment, Deloitte Legal national leader James Fabijancic said: “We are thrilled to welcome Melinda to our talented and rapidly growing team.

“Melinda has a strong record of driving and delivering organisational, digital, and cultural change in global organisations and in finding innovative solutions to complex, multidimensional challenges facing clients.”

“This multidisciplinary approach has never been more important as we work with clients to manage risk, realise opportunity, and drive change for their businesses, particularly through enabling the uptake of technology in this defining moment for the legal industry.

“Our strategy is very much rooted in offering solutions to our clients and not just advice.”

Upton added: “I am delighted to join Deloitte as a partner and Deloitte Legal APAC and Australia growth client lead.

“This is a very exciting time for Deloitte, and we’ve certainly gained real momentum in the Australian market and deepened our legal technical capability in IP, data and technology, contracting, climate and sustainability, and people and workplace areas.

“The world is getting more complex, and the opportunity lies in having the deep business and legal expertise, global scale, and brand reputation, all of which is crucial to being able to support clients and win the trust of clients as they identify fresh opportunities in new challenges.

“Thinking outside the box to operationalise top legal advice to deliver multidisciplinary legal solutions for clients together with overarching obligations to the rule of law will see better implementation within a client’s business and client relationships fully realised.”

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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