General counsel and company secretary | Flinders Ports Holdings
‘Adam Cooper is a very experienced commercial general counsel and company secretary, heavily relied on by the executive at Flinders Ports Holdings, not just in respect of legal matters, but...
Deputy general counsel and assistant company secretary | JB Hi-Fi
Adrian Quah, deputy general counsel and assistant company secretary at JB Hi-Fi, started his legal career in private practice with Clayton Utz, working his way up from an articled clerk...
Senior legal counsel and assistant company secretary | Nine Entertainment
Alethea Lee is a senior corporate transactional and commercial legal adviser, with extensive governance and company secretarial experience having developed an extraordinary amount of experience during her career to date....
Senior legal counsel | McDonald’s Australia
Alex Butterworth serves as senior legal counsel at McDonald’s Australia, the Australian branch of the world’s leading foodservice retailer, working on legal issues around marketing, sponsorship, IT contracts, digital projects,...
Associate general counsel | Sibelco Australia and New Zealand
Alexander Staples started his career working in private practice, with a focus on commercial litigation at TressCox (now HWL Ebsworth) and then at Russells. According to Staples, ‘I had a...
Senior corporate lawyer and assistant company secretary | Santos Limited
Since April 2012, Amanda Devonish has served as senior corporate lawyer and assistant company secretary of Santos, having previously worked in-house and in private practice in Abu Dhabi with Abu...
Corporate legal counsel | Tennis Australia
Having started her legal career in 2013 at Herbert Smith Freehills, Amy Jennings recently assumed the role of senior legal counsel at Tennis Australia, having first moved to Melbourne to...
General counsel and group executive, office of the CEO | Qantas Airways
Senior legal counsel | Nissan Australia
Nissan is a global full-line vehicle manufacturer that sells more than 60 different models under the Nissan, INFINITI and Datsun brands. It is the world’s largest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer,...
Associate director, loans and specialised finance, loan structuring and execution | ANZ
Barbara Carroll has gained experience as a banking and finance lawyer having acted on a range of high value and complex transactions. She currently serves as an associate director, at...
Deputy general counsel – IP and projects | Tabcorp Holdings
Bella Manias commenced her career at Golden Casket Lottery Corporation in 2005 as a corporate solicitor specliasing in intellectual property and consumer law matters, and then with Tatts Group in...
Attorney | Microsoft Australia
Ben Gilbert, a University of Waikato-trained and Sydney-based in-house lawyer, is a commercial attorney supporting global information technology giant Microsoft’s Australia subsidiary. In particular he supports the teams engaged in...
Head of legal and company secretary, privacy officer | NOVA Entertainment
What are the most important transactions and litigations that you have been involved in during the last two years? Nova’s podcast partnership with Acast: at inception this strategic partnership created...
Legal counsel | Dentsu Aegis Network
Dentsu Aegis Network is a multinational media and digital marketing communications company headquartered in London, operating in 145 countries worldwide, with more than 50,000 dedicated specialists. The Australian subsidiary of...
Senior legal counsel | Velocity Frequent Flyer
‘I would like to nominate Brooke Connell to be included in the GC Powerlist: Australia 2019. She is effectively responsible for the general counsel role at Velocity Frequent Flyer (which...
Employment counsel (ANZ) | Uber
After six years as a solicitor at MinterEllison, Cameron Laughlin joined Uber in Sydney in January 2018 as an employment counsel covering Australia and New Zealand. In this short time...
Senior corporate counsel and privacy officer | Toyota Australia
Catherine Morrongiello Conte is the senior corporate counsel and privacy officer at Toyota Motor Corporation Australia. She is an experienced lawyer, with over 10 years PQE, largely in corporate in-house...
Legal services executive – products and marketing | Telstra
‘Craig Emery has led a team through significant restructure and change, with a strong focus on the legal function supporting the strategic vision of the business into the future’.
Head of legal and company secretary | BT Australasia
What are the most important transactions and litigations that you have been involved in during the last two years? For BT’s Australian business, we are very happy with the work...
Group general counsel and company secretary | ASX
‘One of the most important financial entities in the Australian economy, the ASX is the primary securities exchange in Australia and is one the world’s most notable, being listed amongst...
Senior legal counsel and company secretary | Infomedia
Daniel Wall is the senior legal counsel and company secretary at Infomedia, a publicly-listed company on the Australian Securities Exchange and a leading supplier of information solutions to the parts...
General counsel – Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand | Unilever
‘David Dwyer is general counsel of all of Unilever’s Southeast Asia and Australasian businesses, and is a member the legal leadership team and Southeast Asia leadership team. He manages the...
Senior legal counsel – manufacturing and logistics | Cochlear
Serving as senior legal counsel – manufacturing and logistics at Cochlear, a listed medical device company, Deeksha Kumar is a corporate lawyer with rich cross-jurisdictional experience. Her career began at...
Senior legal counsel | Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard Winemakers is the premium wine division of Pernod Ricard, one of the largest alcoholic beverage companies in the world. Edwina Stevenson joined the company in 2017 and has...
Legal counsel | Diageo
Elisabeth White is responsible for legal matters in her position as legal counsel at Diageo, the global leader in alcoholic beverages with over 200 brands, old and new, large and...
Head of legal WA iron ore and nickel west | BHP
After a number of years in private practice, Emma Roberts found what she calls her ‘natural fit’ as an in-house counsel, first on secondment at BP in Scotland, to AngloGold...
General manager, legal – dispute resolution, retail and regulatory | Bank of Queensland
Senior legal counsel, global banking | HSBC Bank Australia Limited
In March 2018, Gary Segal started his current role as senior legal counsel, global banking at HSBC Bank Australia. His in-house career experience is relatively recent but he carries with...
Senior legal counsel and company secretary | KUFPEC Australia (KAPL)
KAPL is a wholly owned subsidiary of KUFPEC, an international oil company engaged in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas outside of Kuwait and active...
Legal manager, shipping and marketing | Fortescue Metals Group
Gemma Stabler serves as legal manager for shipping and marketing at Fortescue Metals Group, a global leader in the iron ore industry. Stabler worked as a senior associate in the...
Executive manager, legal | IAG
Hannah McMurtrie, executive manager, legal at IAG started her career as an articled clerk at King & Wood Mallesons. There, after various rotations throughout the firm, she settled in the...
Legal counsel | Nearmap
Haylen Pong’s in-house experience began in Salmat, an ASX-listed marketing company. ‘Very early into my tenure I became an integral part of the legal team, created enduring working relationships across...
Senior legal counsel, Australia and New Zealand | Dell Technologies
With over 15 years’ professional experience specialising in commercial, consumer, competition, IT, IP, privacy, and franchising law, Jaime Frasca is a senior legal counsel at Dell Technologies, covering Australia and...
Managing counsel | BHP
Jake Elsworthy is a managing counsel at leading global resources company BHP. In this role, Elsworthy provides legal support for strategic commercial activities and transformational projects across BHP’s Australian businesses,...
General counsel | New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment
‘James Hebron now leads one of the largest government departments in New South Wales with the recent merger of the Department of Industry into DPE’.
General counsel and company secretary | The a2 Milk Company
‘Jaron McVicar joined The a2 Milk Company in November 2016 as its inaugural general counsel. Since that time he has built up a legal team of six lawyers and managed...
Senior legal counsel | ENGIE Australia and New Zealand
Jarrod Woodward works as senior legal counsel at ENGIE, a multinational electric utility company, covering Australia and New Zealand. He started his legal career at international law firm Allens, a...
Lawyer, dispute resolution | Westpac
Employed at Westpac since 2016, Jessica Do – an in-house lawyer specialising in dispute resolution within the company’s in-house legal team – has greatly impressed in her three years at...
Legal Counsel | Coca-Cola Amatil
Jessie Porteus has served as the legal counsel for Coca-Cola Amatil for four years, working with a multitude of departments in several business units across Australia, advising on everything legal-related...
Legal services executive – Enterprise | Telstra
‘Leads passionate causes within their teams, including the importance of mental health and well-being. [She has been a] key note presenter on tackling the challenges around progressing women in the...
Director, real estate and special counsel | WeWork
Kate Hasbani, director, real estate and special counsel at WeWork, began working for the company in London in July 2018, and moved home to Sydney with the company in November...
Legal Counsel | Telstra
Katie Dillon is a legal counsel at Telstra. Recognised in the industry press as a notable young in-house lawyer, she is a rising star among corporate in-house counsel in Australia....
Associate general counsel and head of legal, Uber Asia Pacific | Uber
Associate employment counsel, Asia Pacific and Japan | VMware
Kelly Xiao began as a paralegal and then solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills in Sydney and then moved to Alice Yang & Associates Solicitors before taking up her current position...
Legal counsel | Kentucky Fried Chicken
Kim Schoeman qualified as an attorney at law in South Africa in 2008 and moved to the UK the year after. Whilst in London, she worked in-house at dunnhumby, a...
Senior commercial counsel – operations and technology | QBE Insurance Group Limited
Kirsty Cargill has been described by nominators as ‘a talented lawyer’ who has led large telecommunications projects including a global data and analytics platform, global telecommunications deals and transformation projects....
Deputy general counsel, regulatory investigations and dispute resolution | Westpac
Prior to joining Westpac, Kylie Gray was part of the team at King & Wood Mallesons, specialising in technology and telecommunications law. In the last eight years she has held...
Group manager legal | Newcrest Mining
During his five years at Newcrest Mining, Lachlan McMurtrie has advised on almost all aspects of the company’s business including exploration and M&A growth activities across a wide range of...
General counsel | Yara Australia
‘Leigh Holder is an exceptionally capable general counsel and has led the process of integrating the Yara Pilbara Group into the broader Yara International Group. This has involved a wide...
Corporate legal counsel | Thales Group
Lena Chapple is a part of the Thales Group legal and contracts team, an international network of commercial, contracts, trade, compliance, and legal professionals, who are at the heart of...
Group general counsel and external relations director | Lion
Senior legal manager | PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand
Lily Wong joined PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand in 2016 and was soon promoted to senior legal manager in 2017, a leadership role supporting the sales and beverage teams, as...
Senior corporate counsel and company secretary | Goodman
Goodman is a global industrial property group which owns, develops, and manages industrial real estate in 17 countries including logistics facilities, warehouses and business parks. It is the largest industrial...
Counsel and manager | American Express
Lisa Nguyen, an associate counsel at American Express, has demonstrated excellence in her almost four years at the company and has been recognised as a rising star in the industry...
Senior legal counsel – employment law | Healius
Healius is one of Australia’s leading listed healthcare companies with a commitment to supporting quality, affordable and accessible healthcare. Its senior legal counsel for employment law Louisa Manfre started her...
Executive general manager, people, communications and governance | Caltex Australia
Acting deputy general counsel – projects | Transport for NSW
Capturing the attention of nominators as well as recently assuming a more senior role within his organisation, Mark Paige has distinguished himself as a member of the Transport for NSW...
Senior legal counsel | AxiCom
Martha Maiorana, senior legal counsel at Axicom Pty Ltd, started her career as a property paralegal and spent 15 years at firms such as Makinson d’Apice, Herbert Smith Freehills, and...
Senior legal counsel and assistant company secretary | Navitas
Navitas is a leading global education provider that offers an extensive range of educational services to over 70,000 students across its global network. Rumpus is currently a senior legal counsel...
General manager legal – corporate and commercial | Bank of Queensland (BOQ)
Matthew Thompson is a highly skilled transactional legal specialist, and leads the corporate advisory internal legal team at the Bank of Queensland. He has a primary responsibility for corporate development...
In-house lawyer | Supercars
Having always possessed a passion for sports due to his prior spell as an athlete, Michael Napoli knew he ‘wanted to forge a career as a sports lawyer, as it...
Vice president – intellectual property and business partner strategy and ventures | ResMed
Michael Pinczuk, vice president intellectual property and business partner strategy and ventures at medical equipment company ResMed is a highly skilled lawyer with multinational jurisdictional experience and is a true...
General counsel and company secretary, Australia and New Zealand | AIA Australia
As a member of AIA’s executive committee in Australia and New Zealand – what unique attributes do lawyers bring to this level of management? Historically, the role of general counsel...
Legal counsel | Coca-Cola Amatil
Coca-Cola Amatil is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of ready-to-drink non-alcohol and alcohol beverages, coffee and food snacks in the Asia Pacific region, and one of the world’s...
Legal counsel | AIA Australia
In her current role as legal counsel in the retail Insurance team, Nicole Diepenhorst provides support to the retail and health insurance distribution channels of AIA Australia, which includes the...
Senior legal counsel | Mesoblast
Niva Sivakumar, senior legal counsel at Mesoblast, a world leading innovative cellular medicine company, is a talented commercial and IP lawyer from a strong corporate private practice background with a...
Senior legal counsel | WesTrac
WesTrac, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Group Holdings, is one of the largest Caterpillar dealers and heavy mobile equipment solution companies in the world. As the senior legal counsel,...
Senior legal counsel | Tourism Austalia
Ria Manguray has been a legal counsel at Tourism Australia since October 2017, supporting the Australian Government agency responsible for attracting international visitors to Australia, both for leisure and business...
General counsel | Nearmap
‘I would like to nominate Robert Tran to be included in this GC Powerlist. Tran is the general counsel for Nearmap, a fast growing ASX listed company recently admitted to...
Legal counsel | Nova Entertainment
In an extremely short space of time – having only undertaken her first in-house legal position in 2014 – Samantha Walker has hugely impressed her peers and the wider in-house...
Senior legal counsel | AccorHotels
Sara Hughes serves as a senior legal counsel and in-house lawyer at AccorHotels, one of the world’s leading hotel management companies. She is a commercial lawyer who advises on a...
Corporate lawyer | CBH Group
Sarah Croft began her career at King & Wood Mallesons in Melbourne in 2009 (then Mallesons Stephen Jaques). After three years at KWM, she relocated to Perth and joined Clayton...
Senior legal counsel – retail insurance | AIA Australia
AIA’s Australia legal department is brimming with legal talent at all levels, and senior legal counsel Saul Lazar has drawn praise from nominators and colleagues alike for his talent, persistence...
General manager – legal | Wesfarmers
What are the most important transactions and litigations that you have been involved in during the last two years? The acquisition of Catch Group Holdings Limited in June 2019 for...
Senior legal counsel | Springfield City Group
Simon Kalinowski, senior legal counsel for Springfield City Group, has already demonstrated the potential required for a high-level general counsel role during his time with the public planning and development...
Legal counsel | IRESS
Stefani Russo is a highly skilled commercial technology lawyer at IRESS, an ASX 200, listed global leader in financial technology. She is considered an upcoming lawyer in the technology, media...
Legal counsel | AIA Australia
Steve Clayton works as a legal counsel at AIA Australia, and is described by a nominating source as a ‘leadership focused corporate lawyer who specialises in group life insurance and...
General manager – legal | Virgin Australia
‘Since commencing operations in 2000, Virgin Australia Group has developed into a real alternative to Qantas. Selected as the acting chief legal officer for the Group while Dayna Field was...
Senior legal counsel | Medibank
Sylvia Hands, senior legal counsel at Medibank, is an experienced and motivated corporate counsel. She manages a team of three lawyers, providing support to the marketing, sales, product, digital, and...
Legal head of property | McDonald’s Australia
Tammi Chau is the legal head of property at McDonald’s Australia, providing legal advice on a range of matters, including overseeing and supporting the national development group (NDG) on all...
Senior legal counsel | SBS (Special Broadcasting Service)
Theo Dorizac started his legal career in private practice in a small boutique litigation and commercial firm in Wellington, New Zealand where he states he was ‘fortunate to work with...
Lawyer | University of Tasmania
Theo Kapodistrias, an in-house lawyer supporting the University of Tasmania, has a demonstrated passion for educational and public law which first started during his studies. He was the 2013 president...
Senior legal counsel – group insurance | AIA Australia
Tina Davey joined AIA Australia (AIAA) as senior legal counsel in April 2016. She provides strategic legal support to AIAA’s group insurance channel and shared services teams, and is also...
Legal counsel | Nine Entertainment
Toby Yiu joined Australian publicly listed media company Nine Entertainment in 2013 as corporate counsel, and has been working across a number of aspects of the Nine business, including content...
Legal counsel | Telstra
Verity White is a multitalented legal counsel within enterprise consumer contracting at Telstra, supporting large “whole of business” tenders for some of the largest Australian banks and other service providers....
General counsel and compliance officer | Svitzer
‘Vivian Faraj was appointed general counsel for Svitzer Australia in July 2016. She is responsible for providing legal advice to the board of directors and senior management, as well as...
General counsel and head of risk and compliance | Hub24
‘[She is] instrumental in driving strategy. Hub24 is a next-generation service with state-of-the art portfolio management, transaction, and reporting solutions for licensees, financial advisors, accountants, stockbrokers, and institutions’.
Despite the exponential growth of The Legal 500’s in-house research in the past few years, including three consecutive titles in the GC Powerlist series that cover the Australian market, the plethora of in-house legal talent in Australia demands even further coverage. Therefore, in this new project, rather than simply highlighting corporate counsel that have been established as having reached the top of their profession, we have concentrated on those in-house lawyers who are demonstrating capabilities for these positions in the near future. …read more
The term “rising star” is loosely defined as a “person or thing that is growing quickly in importance in a particular field”. Whilst it in some ways has been more challenging putting this shortlist together than our traditional research, it provides an opportunity to recognise and highlight the outstanding work being done underneath the chief legal officer, general counsel or legal director level, as well as to identify where the market is heading and which practitioners are pushing these boundaries.
The in-house lawyers featured in this publication have different types of legal and business expertise, work across different market sectors and often deal with different challenges. The diversity of inclusions is also seen through the varying amounts of experience of lawyers on the shortlist, which ranges from senior legal counsels overseeing sub teams to those with only a handful of years of post-qualified experience. The overarching theme tying them all together however, is that they are each projected to be future leaders of the Australian in-house legal industry in some form, and have demonstrated this ability and potential to our team of researchers.
Our criteria and metrics for selection were not specific, but each shortlisted counsel had to prove that they fulfilled the profile of a rising star. In some cases this was demonstrated through rapid progression at the beginning of an in-house career or through a company’s legal department, recognition from peers and colleagues and the wider industry press, or simply having an impact that proves their ability to confront existing issues and be prepared for future ones that will define the practice of the law or the development of the role of the in-house legal counsel.
After an exhaustive research period involving conversations with our extensive network of senior in-house counsel and private practice lawyers, we have identified legal professionals who we believe have demonstrated the potential of being at the forefront of the in-house legal market in Australia in the future. These talented, upcoming in-house lawyers are projected to soon be the torchbearers at the vanguard of the market in their respective sectors and the industry as a whole, defining, leading, and practising on the most important legal discussions that will define and shape the legal and business environment in years to come.
I would like to thank our sponsor DLA Piper for supporting this publication, and a hearty congratulations to all those shortlisted and recognised as one of Australia’s rising stars in the in-house legal market.
Jamie Rayat
Research editor
As our annual legal gathering, the GC Summit Argentina 2025, continues to grow, it now encompasses the most up-to-date legal challenges faced by in-house counsel. All the sessions offered a dynamic and thought-provoking exploration of the country’s evolving business environment. From labour law to corporate deregulation and the evolving role of legal leadership, panellists delivered valuable insights that painted a comprehensive picture of the challenges and opportunities facing professionals in Argentina today.
In the first session, sponsored by Deloitte, panellists delved into the complexities of Argentina’s labour law landscape, focusing on pressing challenges and strategic planning. The discussion began with a reflection on the country’s pending labour reforms, many of which are seen as crucial to modernising employment regulations and reducing the administrative burden on companies. One of the key themes was the high financial cost of employment in Argentina, driven by rigid regulation, social security contributions, and the influence of powerful trade unions. The panellists discussed how economic instability and high interest rates have further complicated labour litigation, leading to increased exposure for employers.
The conversation moved to dispute mitigation strategies, with practical examples of how companies are navigating contentious employment environments. The speakers also highlighted the significant implications of mergers and acquisitions, particularly the challenges of integrating workforces while maintaining compliance with complex regulatory frameworks. In an increasingly globalised economy, cross-border employment considerations—ranging from legal to cultural—were also explored. This included issues around remote work, tax obligations, and varying employment standards across jurisdictions. The panel concluded by urging companies to adopt more agile and preventative legal strategies to better manage risk and cost in this demanding environment.
Led by Gastón Miani and Leonel Zanotto, Tavarone’s session focused on the intricacies of Argentina’s tax system in the context of its volatile economic environment. A major point of discussion was the tax inflation adjustment mechanism, which has become essential for accurately reflecting economic realities and preventing distorted tax liabilities. The speakers examined the evolving legal interpretations surrounding loss carryforwards and updates, noting how these can significantly affect corporate tax planning and financial forecasting.
Another key issue was the growing concern around gross income tax credit balances, which many businesses are struggling to reconcile due to inconsistent administrative responses and a lack of clarity around refund procedures. The PAIS tax reimbursement process was also scrutinised, particularly in light of increased foreign exchange restrictions and the bureaucratic hurdles that companies must overcome to claim refunds.
The panel offered a comprehensive look at recent legislative developments and court rulings, highlighting the increasing importance of litigation in shaping tax policy. Overall, the session underscored the urgent need for clarity, consistency, and reform in the tax system to foster a more predictable environment for businesses.
Following a brief coffee break, PAGBAM’s panel discussed the impact of Argentina’s sweeping deregulatory reforms, particularly under Decree 70/2023. These reforms, which aim to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and modernise economic governance, have significant implications for corporate lawyers.
The speakers noted that with the dismantling of cumbersome regulatory processes, legal departments are increasingly freed from routine compliance tasks and are able to focus on strategic matters. M&A activity, corporate structuring, and international expansion were highlighted as areas now demanding more attention and proactive legal guidance. The discussion also addressed how anticipated reductions in labour and consumer claims may reshape legal strategies, encouraging lawyers to shift from reactive to forward-looking roles.
General Counsel were encouraged to embrace a more business-oriented mindset, aligning legal work more closely with organisational goals. As regulation continues to evolve, adaptability and strategic foresight will be critical for legal teams navigating this new and less constrained operating environment.
In a compelling fireside chat, Héctor Ferreira of Hughes & Hughes spoke with Margherita Birri, editor of The Legal 500, about Uruguay’s emergence as a regional leader in business and legal stability. Ferreira outlined the country’s political and legal predictability as a major draw for investors, especially in contrast to the volatility in neighbouring countries. He emphasised Uruguay’s strong institutions, transparent legal system, and open economic policies as foundations for sustained growth.
The conversation touched on key sectors such as renewable energy, tech, and agribusiness, where Uruguay is actively fostering innovation and foreign participation. Ferreira also discussed the country’s push for sustainable development, highlighting initiatives that combine economic growth with environmental responsibility. Attendees were left with a strong impression of Uruguay as a safe and attractive jurisdiction for both corporate activity and long-term investment.
Elevating General Counsel as a Strategic Business Partner (5:20pm – 6:05pm)
The final panel of the day focused on the evolving role of the General Counsel. Rodrigo Hermida, Ivana Di Carlo, and Federico Martinez explored how legal leadership is becoming integral to corporate strategy. No longer limited to risk and compliance, GCs are now expected to influence decision-making, shape business direction, and proactively manage legal and reputational risks.
The speakers discussed how the use of data, performance metrics, and cross-departmental collaboration has become essential in elevating the GC’s role. They stressed the importance of effective reporting and communication with leadership, as well as the need to understand the company’s commercial objectives deeply. The panel also acknowledged the impact of digital transformation, which requires legal teams to be agile and tech-savvy. As the business landscape becomes more complex, the General Counsel is increasingly seen not just as a protector of the company, but as a vital contributor to its success.
As per usual, the day concluded with brief closing remarks, followed by a networking session with delicious local drinks and canapés, allowing attendees to reflect on the day’s discussions and connect with peers and experts in a more informal setting. The panels throughout the afternoon provided attendees with a rich and nuanced understanding of the legal and regulatory developments shaping Argentina and its regional neighbours, equipping legal professionals with actionable insights to navigate the path ahead.
