Emma Gruschka and Matthew Hawker stepped up to the leadership effective 1 January
Sparke Helmore has elected Emma Gruschka and Matthew Hawker as its new local managing partners for the Newcastle and Brisbane offices.
The new leaders stepped into their new positions on 1 January, with Gruschka succeeding Alan McKelvey (Newcastle) and Hawker replacing John Toigo (Brisbane).
Gruschka joined the Sparke Helmore partnership in 2021. The seasoned workplace law specialist has tackled employment and work health and safety matters across a variety of sectors, such as mining, transport, financial services, insurance, health care and government.
The firm said that she would be leading an office that “is Sparke Helmore’s ‘spiritual home’ and one that has gone from strength to strength over the decades.”
Meanwhile, Hawker helms the firm’s national government administrative law service line. Focusing exclusively on government administrative law litigation and Commonwealth compensation claims, he guides clients like agencies, licensees and insurers through merits review and judicial review issues.
He made partner in 2017.
