Industry Event

The Hon. Tony Abbott MP was there to officially launch Gerard Henderson’s book, Santamaria: A Most Unusual Man. Bob Santamaria was a mentor to the current PM, who said at the event: “launching this book is an act of piety towards my tribe. It is an act of piety towards someone who was for some years almost a father to me. He helped to shape me, he helped to shape us.” The event, which was hosted by ABL senior partner, Mark Leibler, and co-hosted by Melbourne University Publishing, was a huge success with close to 100 people attending. That same week, Julia Gillard, now Chancellor of online education provider Dūcere, was a guest speaker at an Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce/ Young Business Forum (YBF) event, which was hosted by ABL lawyer Rebecca Zwier and attended by 110 YBF members.

As part of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s recognition of National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week and commitment to reconciliation, the firm is once again supporting AIME’s National Hoodie Day today. ABL staff members are wearing AIME hoodies to raise awareness for this important organisation, which provides a structured education program for Indigenous kids. AIME has had remarkable success with its students finishing school and transitioning through to university at the same rate as every Australian child – effectively closing the gap in educational outcomes. Every limited edition hoodie sold goes straight back into the program and brings AIME closer to working with 10,000 Indigenous kids nationally across Australia by 2018. https://aimementoring.com/about/aime/

Holding Redlich chief executive officer Clarence Kunnel takes part in the 2015 Vinnies CEO Sleepout in Melbourne, held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. It is the sixth year that Mr Kunnel has taken part, one of six people who have participated in all Victorian Sleepouts. Over the past six years he has raised more than $36,000. “This annual event has had an enormous impact on raising awareness about homelessness – a problem that exists Australia-wide,” Mr Kunnel said. “What we experience by taking part is only a fragment of what life must be like on the streets – but with so many influential leaders from the community taking part it is such an important awareness and money-raising initiative.”

Corrs partners take part in CEO Sleepout

Clayton Utz supports Vinnies CEO Sleepout with $20,000+ fundraising effort

More than 430 of the legal industry’s finest filled the ballroom at Sydney’s Shangri-La Hotel for the 2015 Australasian Law Awards. MC'd by Australian comedian Tom Gleeson the event was a roaring success, celebrating the outstanding achievements of the legal profession over the last twelve months. Congratulations to all of the night’s award winners and a big thank you to event partner FTI Consulting, all the award sponsors, finalists and everyone who attended for making it such a huge success.

Arnold Bloch Leibler’s Sydney office recently hosted former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in her role as Chancellor of online education provider Ducere. Ms Gillard spoke to over 60 guests about her involvement with Ducere and its unique MBA course, which features lectures by leading business and political figures from around the world.

DLA Piper Leadership Alliance for Women (LAW) Inspiring women in business event

Arnold Bloch Leibler in Melbourne welcomed three speakers from the Red Cross to talk about the inspiring work they’re doing in bridging the Indigenous disadvantage, including the organisation’s own objectives in relation to recruitment. Kerry McGrath (Head of Community Programs), Nicole Jenkins (Manager, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Engagement) and Jimmy Kyle (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Cultural Adviser & Engagement Officer) visited the ABL offices over lunch for National Close the Gap Day. The Red Cross has made some impressive progress both in Indigenous communities around Australia and within the organisation itself – for example, they have recently increased the percentage of their own staff who identify as Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander from 2 per cent to 6.3 per cent, which exceed the Red Cross 2015 target of 6%. Arnold Bloch Leibler was the first Australian law firm to launch a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), supporting Reconciliation Australia's objective of reducing the 17-year life span gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, with the hope that other professional service firms will follow.