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Newcastle firm rebrands in recognition of significant contribution from partners
Newcastle firm Roberts Legal has rebranded as Roberts Crosbie Mortensen Lawyers — which coincides with the firm opening offices in Sydney.
Jess Feyder
Founded by Sam and Anna Roberts in October 2007, the firm specialises in commercial litigation, building and construction law, business and company law, workplace law and corporate insolvency and restructuring.
The firm has more accredited specialists in commercial litigation than 99 per cent of all law firms in NSW and is continuing to grow.
The firm has a team of 12 lawyers, including three accredited specialists in commercial litigation and a dual-accredited adjudicator.
Mr Roberts, the firm’s managing director, said: “We made a strategic decision earlier this year to revisit our trading name as part of our plans to tackle the Sydney market.
“We considered a number of options, but this name just felt right.
“The new name recognises the significant contributions that partners Amanda Crosbie and Ned Mortensen have made to the growth of the firm over the last five years and the prominent reputations that they have each established in their own right,” he said.
Mr Roberts explained that when his firm engaged a consultant in 2021 to help them develop a mission statement, they were asked to reflect on past successes to uncover why they do what they do.
In doing so, they identified that a key motivator of each of Mr Roberts, Ms Crosbie and Mr Mortensen was a love of solving complex legal problems.
Incidentally, they discovered that they had also each studied four-unit mathematics for their high school certificates, perhaps explaining their knack for problem-solving.
Ms Crosbie, who grew up in Newcastle, began working for the firm in 2015 and became a partner in early 2019.
She now heads up the firm’s corporate advisory and business services team and acts as virtual in-house counsel and trusted adviser to many of the firm’s larger clients.
“Amanda was always an exceptionally capable and diligent lawyer,” said Mr Roberts.
“She could do it all, and clients loved her because she was highly organised and delivered great client service.
“We knew from very early on that she would be a great leader and that we wanted her to be with us for the long run.”
Ms Crosbie said: “It feels surreal to be a named partner of a law firm, and I am incredibly proud to be part of a team that supports and encourages staff to further their careers.
Mr Mortensen, who came to the legal profession after having worked for 20 years in the construction industry as a project manager and expert witness, joined the firm in 2017 and became a partner in late 2019.
He now heads the firm’s building and construction law team and is an accredited adjudicator under the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) with both Adjudicate Today and the ABC Dispute Resolution Service.
“Ned [Mortensen] is an amazing lawyer and a real asset to the firm,” said Mr Roberts.
“He is highly regarded and sought out by clients because of his dual qualifications and experience in both law and construction.
“Commercial contractors and home builders love him because he is extremely knowledgeable, talks their language and gets straight to the point.
“He is particularly adept at dealing with security of payment adjudications and claims involving defective works and delays,” said Mr Roberts.
Mr Mortensen finished his career in construction in Sydney as a senior project manager, where he was responsible for project managing large projects, including an infrastructure project with a value in excess of $200 million.
“I completed some additional legal subjects when finishing my construction degree in 1998 and always had an interest in law after that,” said Mr Mortensen.
“After leaving Lend Lease, I started a building inspection company in Newcastle and completed a law degree while operating that business and appearing as an expert witness in home building disputes.
“I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities that I have had with Roberts Legal.
“I was able to really accelerate my career with a focus on the construction industry and be involved in some interesting and complex building disputes.
“I enjoy advocacy work and the challenge that comes with appearing in the Supreme Court before Justice Hammerschlag and running hearings in NCAT where my opponents have briefed barristers.
“Having my name on the door feels extremely rewarding.
“I am thankful because it will help me to get my name out further and to attract and help more businesses in the construction industry, an industry that I am still very passionate about.”
