Mills Oakley has announced its largest annual promotion round yet, appointing four new partners, two new special counsel, eight new senior associates, and 14 new associates.
Pablo Fernandez, Nicola Johnson, Kym Kerr, and Matt Sonter have been appointed partners. Lauree Blair and Beth Jarman have been appointed special counsel.
Fernandez, who is based in the national firm’s Melbourne office, specialises in commercial, retail, and industrial real estate. He has extensive experience in all Australian states and territories, and advises on sales and acquisitions, a wide range of lease agreements, and all stages of project development.
Johnson, who is based in Sydney, is a government, public and administrative law specialist. She advises Commonwealth Government agencies, with particular focus on the Department of Immigration, on complex legal issues and the conduct of litigation. She regularly appears before the Federal Circuit and
Federal Court of Australia.
Kerr, who leads the firm’s family law practice in Perth, has been an accredited family law specialist since 2007. She acts for Western Australia as well as overseas clients in all matters arising from end of marriage, de facto and same-sex relationships. She also acts on protection of assets matters.
Sydney-based Sonter specialises in planning and environmental law, with a focus on Land and Environment Court litigation. All four have been promoted from special counsel.
Blair is a member of the firm’s financial services practice and is based in Melbourne. In addition to private practice, she was also a lawyer for the Australian Securities & Investments Commission.
Jarman, who is based in the firm’s Sydney office, specialises in family law. After starting her career in private practice, she was a family law solicitor at Legal Aid NSW for 19 years.
The firm’s new senior associates are:
- Jacqueline Wang (financial services)
- Peter Dascarolis (property)
- Hannah Carne (commercial disputes)
- Jennifer O’Farrell (commercial disputes)
- Mary-Anne El-Hage (projects and infrastructure)
- Lauren Weier (corporate)
- Michael Chapman (financial services)
- Michael Sheehan (construction)
Pablo Fernandez
Nicola Johnson
Kym Kerr
Matt Sonter
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