Industry Event

With dry weather tightening its grip on rural Australia last December, McCullough Robertson agribusiness lawyer Trent Thorne travelled to New Zealand to climb Mount Cook in a bid to attract donations of funds to purchase urgently-needed livestock fodder through the ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign. Though Thorne's summit was ‘thwarted’ due to avalanche risk, the self-professed ‘agvocate’ managed to support producers struggling to keep pace with worsening drought conditions

Clayton Utz recently held its annual two-day intensive Continuing Legal Education event for clients in its Sydney offices. With productivity on the lips of politicians and businesses alike, the firm’s chief executive partner-elect, Rob Cutler, was joined by Productivity Commission chair, Peter Harris AO, for a plenary session on the topic of productivity and Australia’s competitiveness.

Piper Alderman celebrated 10 years in Brisbane last month by inviting clients and contacts for a cocktail party. Having moved to Brisbane’s Riverside Centre since opening in 2004, chairman Gordon Grieve thanked clients for their support over the years. Attendees included many of Piper Alderman’s Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide partners and lawyers, who have worked closely with Brisbane-based clients as part of its national approach to client service

Allen & Overy’s Australian managing partner Grant Fuzi put up his hand recently to participate in The Big Issue’s International Vendor Week. Trading the office for the street, Fuzi helped some of The Big Issue’s vendors – including Adam (pictured) – hawk the publication to the public, in an activity that The Big Issue’s CEO Steven Persson says is important in providing the magazine’s vendors with a “sense of purpose and connection to the wider community”. Fuzi also sits on the board of the organisation.

Take a look at the future. It’s custom designed. It’s egalitarian. Oh, and you get to sit in your own ‘open pod’. It’s King & Wood Mallesons’ new Perth office at QV.1 Tower. Equipped with things you’ve always wanted (abundant wireless tech, for example) and things you never knew existed (‘media scraper’ units) the firm hopes the office will boost collaboration and break down traditional models of working.

Gilbert + Tobin is one well-rounded law firm. At BRW's recent Client Choice Awards, the firm was named the nation's best law firm (in the revenue category between $50m and less than $200m), Australia's best provider to the professional services sector, and Australia's most innovative law firm. No small feat. Not only that, the firm also took home awards for being the 'most caring' and 'most friendly' firm in Australia. Australasian Lawyer is not entirely sure how the latter honours were quantified, but we are sure it is deserved.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth welcomed some of Australia’s most savvy women entrepreneurs as part of Springboard's intensive boot camp and three-month coaching program that could see participants raise capital to grow their businesses. In this photo, Wendy Simpson, OAM (Chairman - Springboard Enterprises, Australia); Annette Hughes (Partner and Co-Chair, Diversity Council – Corrs); The Hon Kelly O’Dwyer MP; Kay Koplovitz (Chairman and co-founder - Springboard Enterprises [US]); Teresa Handicott (Chairman – Corrs); and Robert Regan (Partner, Partner in Charge of Sydney Office, and Divisional Leader, Corporate, Finance and Tax – Corrs).