Kelly has been a partner at the firm for more than eight years and a member of its executive board since September 2019.

Speaking about her appointment, she said that she is grateful for Lunn’s guidance and continued support and is looking forward to the future.

“FB Rice is a well-established and highly regarded firm, and it is a great honour to play a pivotal role in its continued success. This year, we have already announced a new IP advisory service offering, and this is just the beginning,” she said.

“I’m looking forward to engaging with our clients and our team to identify fresh ideas, while maintaining the attributes that make this firm so special.”

FB Rice was founded over 75 years ago in Sydney and now also has offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland, and Wellington.

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Lunn will officially step down from 1 July 2025 and will work closely with Kelly in the transition period. He will continue his service with the firm as a registered patent attorney.

“In many ways, this new chapter will allow me to support the partners in different ways, engage with clients on a far more regular basis, and provide support with business development to help guide the firm into the future,” he said.

“I’ve had a wonderful tenure as managing partner and felt it was time to pass on the torch to allow for a smooth succession process and enable the firm to continue to shine as an industry leader.

“Our team [has] always held ourselves to high standards with the values of continuous growth, helpful and approachable, and teamwork at our core. I know these will continue to guide us in our 76th year of operation and beyond.”

He added: “I have had the pleasure to work alongside Madeleine for almost 12 years and feel incredibly confident in her ability to lead the team and provide innovative approaches and new offerings to benefit our business and clients.

“Succession planning is something that I consider incredibly important to the continued success of a firm and for effective client continuity. I am looking forward to working collaboratively with Madeleine in the coming months to make the change as seamless as possible.”