Carter Newell promotes four, welcomes new special counsel

Carter Newell has promoted four and appointed a new special counsel.

The promotions took effect on 1 October. According to managing partner Paul Hopkins, some of the promotions are of lawyers who “have been with Carter Newell since the beginning of their careers.”

Stephanie Levesque was elevated to special counsel in Carter Newell’s insurance division in Brisbane. She joined Carter Newell as a law graduate and is a member of the property and injury liability team.

She has handled personal injury claims under the Personal Injuries Proceedings Act 2002 (Qld), common law, recovery claims resulting from property damage, and litigated property damage claims. She has also worked on indemnity and liability issues on behalf of insurers and corporate insured.

Abraham Hopkins was promoted to associate. He is part of the construction and engineering team in Brisbane, and his practice focuses on dispute resolution.

His clients include principals, contractors, and consultants, whom he has advised on various matters arising from civil, building, mechanical, electrical, and mining projects across Australia. He has also tackled a variety of construction and engineering-related claims on behalf of both local and international underwriters.

Grace Hailstones was elevated to associate. She is a member of the insurance team in Melbourne, handling financial lines and property and injury liability insurance.

She has conducted the defence of claims under professional indemnity and public and product liability policies. Her clients include local and international insurer clients, business owners, allied health professionals, property managers, accountants, and architects. 

Molly Shelton was promoted to associate in the firm’s Brisbane arm. She operates across the energy and resources and planning and environment teams.

Her expertise includes advising on the sale, acquisition and development of mining and petroleum projects, as well as on the impact of various petroleum and mining regulatory regimes, environmental and project approvals, planning approvals and appeals, land access and compensation arrangements, agreements for water bores in Queensland and cultural heritage and native title requirements across Australia.

Peter Motti is a new addition to the special counsel ranks in Carter Newell’s corporate team in Brisbane. He was previously a special counsel at Kardos Scanlan, and he also logged stints at Dentons and MinterEllison.

He has a special interest in capital raisings, and recently worked with clients in the early-stage tech and agribusiness industries. He has advised on matters involving corporate governance, M&A, employee share schemes, commercial contracts, and general commercial matters both nationally and internationally. Moreover, he has worked across the agriculture, technology, engineering and infrastructure, government, real estate, and communications sectors, among others.