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Barry Nilsson adds 3 principals, promotes further 25 staff
National law firm Barry Nilsson (BN) has promoted 27 staff internally and hired a new principal in a move to deepen expertise in family and insurance law, areas in high demand for the firm.
Lauren Croft
Three new principals have been appointed at Barry Nilsson, in addition to the promotion of seven special counsel, seven senior associates, nine associates, and two business services professionals.
These promotions span across the firm’s family law and insurance and health law practice groups after Barry Nilsson recorded a near-20 per cent increase in revenue in the 2024 financial year.
The firm’s staff numbers have also grown by 11 per cent, including an almost 9 per cent increase in lawyer headcount to 236, according to Murdoch.
“This progress would not be possible without our national team of highly skilled staff,” he said.
The new principals at the firm include existing BN lawyers Jacob Luca (insurance, Melbourne) and Matt Hempstead (family, Brisbane), as well as new hire Maya Sen (family, Sydney), bringing the firm’s total number of principals to 41 across its practice areas nationally.
Sen brings over 20 years of experience to BN’s national family law team, including most recently serving as a practice director of Sydney-based firm Broun Abrahams Burreket for over seven years. Her work includes acting for parties in complex financial cases involving high-net-worth individuals, family company and trust structures, and valuation issues.
Hempstead is an accredited family law specialist with experience in a diverse range of family law matters, including property, domestic violence, child support and spousal maintenance. Luca specialises in personal injury litigation, and his experience includes public liability, motor vehicle accident claims and workers’ compensation claims.
Outgoing BN chairperson Rhett Kennedy said BN is thrilled to welcome the new principals.
“Having served as a director at a leading Sydney family law firm, Maya brings a wealth of expertise and bolsters our strategy in establishing BN as an east coast leader in family law,” he said.
“In addition to their advanced technical ability, high standard of client service, and strong contribution to client relationship development, Jacob and Matt are being recognised for the leadership qualities they’ve upheld within their individual roles and practice areas and as part of our wider BN team.”
In addition, Audrey-Lee Pham, Brett Sherwin, Cameron O’Reilly, Emma Baker, Meagan Murrell, Michael Massarotto and Tinashe Makamure have been promoted to special counsel.
The new senior associates at the firm are Amanda Emonson, Anna Crawford, Ashlee Sherman, Bert Smallbone, Erick Culala, Jack Young and Lucy Mitchell.
Finally, the following have been promoted to associate: Amanda Brady, Amanda Shukur, Carmen Zhu, Gigi Lynis, Jason Xue, Michael Geraghty, Mikeala Wheadon, Remy Crozier and Ysabelle Kong.
Within the business services team, Mackenzie Carsley has been promoted to people and culture coordinator in Brisbane, and Rebecca Chan has been elevated to national people and culture/learning and development manager in Sydney.
“These appointments reflect our commitment to promoting internal talent and providing our people with opportunities to grow and take on new challenges,” Kennedy added.
“We appreciate their significant contributions to the firm and are delighted to be able to recognise and reward their efforts in this way.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
