Lavan starts 2022 strong with new senior appointments

The firm debuted a new role that will bolster its pro bono offering

Lavan starts 2022 strong with new senior appointments
Bruno Di Girolami, Anka Burns, Garth Tinsley

Lavan is coming into 2022 strong with several new senior appointments.

The firm brought in a three-strong team led by partner Bruno Di Girolami to beef up its employment, safety and education practice. Di Girolami was joined by special counsel Sharon Payn and associate Anna Lee.

“Bruno is one of the best employment partners in Western Australia and Lavan’s clients will benefit from the leading-edge solutions that Bruno, Sharon and Anna will provide,” Lavan managing partner Dean Hely said.

Di Girolami and his team are experienced advisors when it comes to current workplace-related concerns like flexible workforces, vaccination strategies, discrimination and sexual misconduct, complex employment and safety litigation and COVID-19 restrictions on global mobility and migration. Di Girolami himself has played roles in significant employment and health and safety cases that have been brought before a variety of courts and tribunals.

Also joining the partnership this month is property and leasing expert Anka Burns.

“Anka has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to client service and legal excellence. She has been a steadfast source of advice and support to her clients as they respond to ever changing market opportunities and challenges,” Lavan property partner Peter Beekink said of the promotion.

Moreover, the firm is looking to bolster its pro bono offering by debuting a new special counsel position that has been filled by Garth Tinsley. He is a seasoned practitioner who has worked in the corporate and community legal sectors to develop his experience in pro bono and corporate social responsibility.

Other senior appointments within Lavan are as follows:

Special counsel

  • Shelley Gepp – restructuring, recovery and insolvency
  • Alex McGlue – planning and environment

Senior associate

  • Alex Biddulph – corporate services
  • Andrew Sutton – litigation and dispute resolution
  • Jun Yang – corporate services

Associate

  • Adam Flynn – aged care, seniors living and disability
  • Erin Papalia – family law
  • Emily Templeton-Knight – property and leasing

Hely praised the appointments, which came into effect on 1 January.

“We are very proud to announce these promotions and appointments. They are all high performing lawyers who are skilled at navigating legal situations, from the simple to the complex. They are dedicated to their clients and our firm, and they are actively involved in pro bono and community focused initiatives,” he said.