It's all about opportunities in key areas, Adam Bannister, SA and NT managing partner, tells Australasian Lawyer
The integration of MinterEllison’s South Australia and Northern Territory partnerships into the MinterEllison Australia group took shape naturally over the last few years, the firm’s Adam Bannister tells Australasian Lawyer. The decision was made easier as advantages and new opportunities became more and more obvious.
“We share the same values and many common clients. For many years, the SA and NT offices have been aligning more and more closely on an operational and structural basis with MinterEllison Australia,” Bannister says.
With the firm’s main objective being to help clients to grow and protect their businesses, integration became more and more appealing, the SA and NT managing partner says.
“Over the last couple of years it became clear that this objective was best met by integrating with MinterEllison Australia, providing us with greater reach, resources and operational efficiencies,” he says.
And there are several reasons why the move, which will be completed by the end of the month, makes total sense.
“Full integration removes the natural impediments inherent in an affiliated structure. Our clients will have all the benefits of continuing to work with local practitioners, but with enhanced access to niche expertise, if that expertise happens to reside in another office,” he says. “It will allow us to seamlessly harness a broader base of talent and diversity of thought to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients. It consolidates the brand and presents us with the unique standing to approach the market as the only major firm with offices in every mainland capital.”
The integration also benefits the firm’s ability to innovate, making the whole organisation more efficient. The move boosts the scale of the firm’s investment in innovative solutions, its use of technology, and lowering costs to meet the diverse needs of our clients, he says.
For clients, the integration also increases collaboration, something that the MinterEllison group is keen to tap into to be more effective in service delivery. In turn, this boost the firm’s ability to constantly deliver value to and how it works with clients, the senior lawyer says.
“This will allow us to proactively assist our clients who will benefit from nationally aligned strategies centred on deep industry knowledge,” Bannister says. “We have an enhanced ability to lead the market, anticipating emerging trends and helping our clients capitalise on opportunities in their regions of operation.”
“Integration will ensure a consistency of standards and a distinctive look and feel to the engagement and the deliverable. In time, the client experience will be uniquely and obviously MinterEllison from wherever the service is delivered,” he says.
Clients can expect continued commitment to excellence and service outcome, he says. The unique nature of the markets in SA and NT will also benefit the firm’s overall operations and its clients in the other states.
“Over time I would expect there to be even more emphasis on the use of technology, such as document automation and AI and the discipline of specialist project management on major matters,” he says. “Given some of the unique features of the markets and industries in SA and NT, such as the Energy sector for instance, a number of our senior leaders will be able to bring the benefit of their experience and expertise to focus on the national market.”
The integration also makes sense for increasing opportunities for the firm’s lawyers.
“There will be significant opportunities for our staff to work on different types of matters, with different partners, in different locations, bringing the benefit of that experience and expertise back to the local market,” he says.
The move makes for an exciting time for the firm and its staff, particularly for the SA and NT partnerships.
“We have enjoyed an exceptional relationship with MinterEllison for many years. Moving to full integration is a transformational development providing a unique operating environment and a significant strategic market advantage,” Bannister says. “We are delighted to start a new journey in a services market that is very dynamic. Change is something we embrace and we intend to continue capturing every opportunity we can.”
Adam Bannister
