The new partners operate from the Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Newcastle offices
Four lawyers have reached partner level in Sparke Helmore’s latest round of promotions.
Ian Bennett, Catherine Morton, Jehan Mata, and Andrew Ferguson recently joined the partnership, operating from the firm’s Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, and Newcastle offices.
“I’m proud to see the appointment of Ian, Catherine, Jehan, and Andrew to our growing partnership,” national managing partner Andrew White said. “They are all exceptionally talented lawyers, recognised as leaders in their respective areas of law. For such outstanding people to come through our ranks demonstrates the depth of talent that we are developing nationally.”
Bennett is part of the workplace team in Perth and has been with the firm for more than a decade. He is a highly regarded workplace lawyer specialising in employee relations, work health and safety (WHS), and coronial inquests.
He advises private and public sector clients on all forms of work-related issues, including discrimination, long-term absenteeism, bullying and harassment, fitness for duties, dismissal disputes, industrial instrument interpretation, restraint of trade, policy and procedure development, and WHS investigation, prosecution and enforceable undertakings.
Morton is a member of the environment and planning team in Sydney. She is a solicitor and a registered architect with experience advising council and private clients on planning, environment, and local government matters.
Having been employed as a planning law solicitor since 2005, she has appeared in judicial review, easements proceedings, contempt proceedings, and merits appeals from the actual or deemed refusal of development applications before the Supreme Court and the Land and Environment Court. She is also a skilled mediator and has regularly negotiated favourable outcomes for clients through conciliation.
Mata is part of the commercial insurance team in Melbourne. She is an experienced insurance litigator with a strong background in professional indemnity, professional negligence, casualty line, and health law claims.
She also advises on policy coverage and legislative and contractual interpretation and has worked with insurers and corporations on a wide range of general liability claims. She has experience running matters in all jurisdictions, including disciplinary boards, the Coroner’s Court of Victoria, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, and all levels of state and Commonwealth courts.
Ferguson is a member of the property team in Newcastle. He is an expert property lawyer specialising in property development and off-the-plan projects space in Newcastle and the Hunter region.
He assists clients with the management of their property portfolios, including sales, acquisitions, leasing, subdivisions, strata law, commercial and industrial developments, staged developments, and conveyancing and contracts.
