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Macpherson Kelley promotes 13, adds special counsel
Mid-tier firm Macpherson Kelley has elevated 13 professionals to more senior roles and has also appointed a new special counsel in its Brisbane office.
Jerome Doraisamy
Macpherson Kelley has named two new special counsel (and hired another), six new senior associates and five new associates.
The firm’s new senior associates are Katerina Petkovska, Stella Gehrckens, Lachie Beeston, Ashleigh Pearse, Nick Lavanda and Lachlan Yule, and its new associates are Josh Burland, Eliza-Jayne Sinclair, Isabella Stephenson, Ella Walters and Nik Verbeek.
Speaking about the promotions, Macpherson Kelley national managing principal Grant Guenther said: “James and Kara have achieved great success by putting their clients first. Their collaborative approach, both with their clients and colleagues, sets them apart as leaders within the firm. I want to congratulate them on this exciting next step in their career.”
“This has been our largest round of promotions since 2020, and it says a lot about the quality and commitment of lawyers working their way through the firm’s ranks.
“All of those promoted have made significant contributions to Macpherson Kelley and, as a firm that prioritises development and career progression, it’s been great to reflect on the talents of our people.”
Elsewhere, the firm has welcomed back Nicole Treacey to its Brisbane office, who practises in wills and estates law. She will serve as a special counsel.
The firm’s Brisbane managing partner, Cathy Russo, said: “One of the words that I always associate with Nicole is trust.”
“The way that Nicole is able to connect on such a deep level with her clients is of immeasurable value for our Queensland clients, their business and personal lives.”
The news also follows recent promotions rounds in the profession, including: MinterEllison promoting 91 on Friday, 30 June; three Australians making partner at Baker McKenzie on Friday; Colin Biggers & Paisley promoting 13 on Friday; Clyde & Co naming 13 new senior associates, as reported on Monday, 3 July; Meridian elevating 12 lawyers, also reported also on Monday; Allens promoting 70 on Thursday, 29 June; the elevation of eight, including four to partner, at PCL Lawyers, also on Thursday, the 29th; IPH promoting 25, including seven to principal, also on Thursday, the 29th; Russell Kennedy’s promotion of 18 on Wednesday, 28 June; Slater & Gordon promoting 46; Holman Webb elevating eight and nabbing three new partners from BigLaw rivals, also on Wednesday, the 28th; Herbert Smith Freehills’ elevation of 46 to senior associate on Tuesday, 27 June; the promotion of 12, including three to partner, at Arnold Bloch Leibler, on Tuesday, the 27th; Holding Redlich’s promotion of 41 lawyers to more senior roles, also on 27 June; 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 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.
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