‘Without a doubt, the thing I enjoy most in my role is working with my FMA colleagues, in the various wider teams’, Aliesia Gartrell says. ‘The FMA staff are here because...

With over 20 years of legal experience in New Zealand and the United States, Andrew Cordner currently acts as group general counsel for the Fonterra Group, New Zealand’s multinational co-operative...

Since June 2013, Anna Lenahan has acted as group executive group general counsel and company secretary of the Suncorp Group. After joining the company in March 2011 as group general...

‘Each day brings an assortment of interesting tasks and concepts, with challenges and fun’, Anne Lock says, adding: ‘Sharing a tea room with brilliant inventors is awesome’. Heading legal support...

Home-grown kiwi lawyer Anton Shead led the nation’s first ever joint venture between an NZ-listed property vehicle and a sovereign wealth fund. ‘It was an absolute highlight’, Shead says of...

Ari Bergman is the current chief operations officer for the property and asset finance division of Wingate, he took up the Melbourne-based post in October 2015 after 11 years role...

‘An outstanding lawyer with an excellent grasp of the issues which affect her industry’, Betty Ivanoff is ‘unfailingly commercial, insightful and frank’. As general counsel to ASX 100 agribusiness GrainCorp,...

One of ACLA’s GC100 founding members and its deputy chair, Brian Salter is among Australia’s most known and respected in-house lawyers. Focused on thought leadership in Australian business law, the...

‘A dynamic, customer-focused and people-focused manager’, Brigid McDonald impresses not only with her leadership and mentoring skills, but also with her technical understanding. Auckland Transport is responsible for all of...

When the 2011 earthquakes hit Christchurch, New Zealand faced a crisis of unseen proportions. As the legal head of the body responsible for dealing with its aftermath, Bronwyn Arthur, in...

Australia’s largest telecommunications and media company, Telstra, has undergone significant transformation in recent years. As its group GC, Carmel Mulhern has made her name both inside and outside the company...

‘As in-house lawyers are often labelled as “handbreaks or naysayers”, it is critical that I have the trust and confidence of my colleagues so that they aren’t afraid to seek...

Acting as group general counsel and company secretary of QBE Insurance Group Limited, Carolyn Scobie joined Australia’s leading global insurer in January 2016. Scobie assumed her position at QBE after...

Awarding-winning general counsel Cathy Manolios leads a highly regarded team, and is praised for her contribution to Zurich Financial Services’ national corporate governance program. A member of the senior management...

As general counsel and company secretary of one of New Zealand’s largest listed companies, Charles Bolt has made a substantial impact during his two years in the role. In 2013,...

‘An extremely capable general counsel and company secretary’, Chris Bertuch is ‘focused on achieving high value outcomes for the company that he represents’. During a varied and impressive in-house career,...

Responsible for legal, company secretarial and HR, Chris Bignold’s exceptionally wide remit brings with it a panoptic view of Kellogg’s Asia Pacific operations. ‘There has been a lot of learning...

‘A highly regarded practitioner’, Chris Crooks has been pivotal to strategic decision-making in Apple’s Asia Pacific operations, and is praised for his commercial and pragmatic approach. Sources particularly point to...

State-owned enterprise EnergyAustralia owns a multibillion dollar generation portfolio servicing more than 2.7 million customers nationwide. In September 2015 Chris Ryan saw his department expand to include the Regulatory Compliance...

‘A true business partner’, Claire Bibby is widely regarded across Australia and New Zealand’s legal landscape for her commercial approach, technical knowledge, and high-powered transactional expertise. She supported Brookfield’s takeovers...

Embarking upon her fourth general counsel role, Claire Miller is rated for her operational understanding, ‘leadership’ and ‘communicative, collaborative and inclusive management and work style’. Charged with a comprehensive remit,...

‘I am passionate about the role of in-house counsel – what the role is, and the value and contribution I believe the role can add’, says Clifford Tuck. ‘I also...

As vice president, general counsel and company secretary, Craig Cawood works closely with several different arms of the global brand’s national business. He is responsible for all legal matters in...

‘Craig has led and continues to lead a fantastic legal team at ANZ’, opines one private practice source. Heading 32 lawyers supporting New Zealand’s largest financial institution, Craig Mulholland is...

As head of BT’s Australasia legal team, Dan Cootes has advised on many complex global telecommunications and outsourcing deals, as well as supporting the BT business through a sustained period...

Award-winning in-house lawyer Daniel Krutik routinely handles billion-dollar cross-border transactions for Australia’s leading energy company, Origin. He drew particular recognition for his handling of its $3.26bn acquisition of two electricity...

David Cohen became group general counsel of CBA in June 2008 and assumed the role of leading group corporate affairs at the beginning of 2012. Cohen advises the CEO and...

‘Supportive and conscientious’, ‘enthusiastic and always prepared to explain’, Elaine Pretorius ‘is a team player with the ability to see the larger picture while focusing on the task at hand’....

‘Understanding the goals and strategy of the organisation is key to fulfilling the role of in-house counsel’, opines Emily Madder. During nearly 20 years with the global technology leader, Madder...

Frank van der Kooy has impressed with his innovative leadership, most recently spearheading the legal function’s wide-reaching strategic review and reorganisation. ‘Frank has put in place systems so that Horizon...

For over 20 years Gail Hambly has served as the group general counsel and company secretary of Fairfax Media, one of the largest media companies in Australia and New Zealand...

Federal government-owned ARTC manages most of the nation’s interstate rail network. It has been through considerable changes over recent years, with significant development projects, and the announced plans for its...

‘A dedicated professional’, during 26 years’ experience in the oil and gas industry, Gavin Ryan has managed a diverse range of projects across more than 30 countries. These have included...

Reporting directly to the CEO, Geoff Healy occupies the chief legal counsel position at the flagship Australian mining company, having joined BHP Billiton in June 2013. Prior to this, Healy...

‘I enjoy most that my counsel is actively sought by the CEO, chairman and my colleagues’, Graeme Edwards says. ‘I have the opportunity to contribute and make a difference in...

Grant Fraser faced a unique situation for a GC, stepping into the CEO’s shoes when the role became unexpectedly vacant at Mitre 10 in 2013. Fraser, who had joined the...

Grant Smallhorn has impressed sources with his support of Parsons Brinckerhoff International’s changing business profile. ‘The acquisition of Parsons Brinckerhoff by WSP Global Inc. has created fresh opportunities for legal...

‘To succeed, you need to be passionate about what you do and how it contributes to others and to the overall success of your organisation’, Helen Burgess says. ‘The NRMA...

Ingrid Player stands apart for her ‘exceptional business mindset’, drive and commitment to the task in hand. ‘She is a motivated and talented lawyer who covers a broad range of...

Leading personal care and hygiene company, Asaleo Care, manufactures products across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. As its general counsel, James Orr has taken considerable steps to heighten efficiency...

‘A rising star in Australia’s general counsel community’, Jean Paul Wallace is recognised as one of Australia’s leading construction lawyers. As legal head of CIMIC Group member, CPB Contractors Pty...

‘Optus was born to bring competition to the telecommunications market in Australia’, says Jenny Rees. ‘Being a challenger has always been part of its DNA’. GC to Australia’s second largest...

‘There is a constant challenge working in-house to prioritise where we spend our time’, opines Jeremy Stevenson. ‘We need to get the balance right between urgent day-to-day work and work...

‘One of the best lawyers in the market’, Jessica Lyons is praised by sources for her versatility and business focus. During the short period in her current role as CUB’s...

‘I feel very grateful to have had the opportunity to work on various LNG projects in the pacific region’, Jodie Hatherly says. ‘Working in the oil and gas sector is...

Leading a highly regarded cross-border team, the ‘strategic’ and ‘stoical’ John Frangi has carved out a reputation for his management of ground-breaking real estate transactions in the region. These include...

‘An excellent lawyer’ with ‘strategic vision’, John Rodger ‘discharges himself with passion, professionalism and a good sense of humour’. He has held a variety of legal and commercial roles during...

‘I rarely see the same matter twice at Tabcorp’, Julian Hoskins says. ‘It is a terrific organisation to work for and my team is fabulous, which makes my job a...

Julie Galligan has supported Transurban during a period of ambitious growth in the jurisdiction, and has worked on some of Australia’s most complex and innovative infrastructure projects in the process....

With over 20 years’ in-house experience in the property and construction industry, Karen Pederson has led high profile national and international projects. During her time as Brookfield Multiplex’s GC, she...

Karl Vincent assumed his current role in November 2015, acting as associate general counsel of utilities company Vector Limited in Auckland. Vincent strongly believes that ‘legal is not a box...

‘The most enjoyable aspect of my role is the oversight that I get across the entire business’, Katherine Evans says. ‘It gives me a unique perspective among other managers, and...

Katherine Grace is recognised by many as one of Australia’s leading property lawyers. In her previous role as Westfield Retail Trust’s GC, she completed the Trust’s merger with Westfield Group....

Praised for her ‘exemplary’ industry knowledge, Kylie McPherson sits on the governing executive of both Australia’s Distilled Spirits Industry Counsel and Spirits New Zealand. With broad strategic input at board...

A recognised national expert, Larissa Vaughan has drawn particular notice for her ground-breaking work with New Zealand’s recent FMCA legislation. ‘I feel I have been able to draw on my...

‘In my view, the biggest challenges and perhaps the greatest opportunities for general counsel to demonstrate their value-add, are in the context of major strategic transactions and large-scale regulatory changes’....

‘Liang, as general counsel for OceanaGold, is a highly capable corporate counsel’, says one private practice source. ‘She is a motivated and talented lawyer who covers a broad range of...

An international leader in hard rock underground mining, Barminco is continuing to grow, and Louis Mostert is at the helm of its strategic transactions in the region. Sources praise his...

‘I am fortunate to work for a high growth company in a high growth industry’, says Luke Facer. ‘As industries, IT and healthcare are both evolving extremely fast to keep...

As general counsel to leading infrastructure business Asciano, Lyndall Stoyles has been recognised for the positive and effective way she has partnered with the business. ‘I structured the team to...

Marcus Clayton is valued by those he works with for his ‘clear vision’ and cohesive management style. As general counsel for one of Australia’s largest home-grown brands, he has supported...

A highly respected corporate counsel and recognised financial services expert, Maria Polczynski leads an award-winning team at one of Australia’s leading retail banks. Known for her innovative and business-focused approach,...

‘Prioritising and operating in a fast-paced, hyper-growth environment, encompassing multiple jurisdictions, has been my biggest challenge’. A multiple-award-winning corporate counsel, Matt Vaughan has made great waves from an early stage...

Maya vanden Driesen is responsible for the legal arm of one of Australia’s largest listed companies, which has a diverse array of business operations including large supermarket chains Coles, Kmart...

Melissa Anastasiou has created a bespoke 18-strong function to support a business in, what she terms, ‘a constant state of transformation and innovative growth’. Following two restructures the function now...

Heading legal, regulatory and company secretarial, Michael Riches not only built Alinta’s function from scratch, but also forged its place within the business, where none had previously existed. ‘We had...

With eight years’ life insurance experience across Asia Pacific, Michael Tropea has an impressive list of cross-border transactions and projects to his name. AIA Australia is among the nation’s leading...

Mike Brooker has drawn significant attention for his role in the 2013 merger, which created New Zealand’s leading supermarket brand Foodstuffs in its current form. Given the market dominance of...

Online electricity retailer Powershop NZ is one of the nation’s biggest start-up success stories of recent years. Amid a sea of recognition, Monique Green says she is particularly proud of...

US- and Australia-qualified Nancy Peterson has a wealth of global experience, with particular expertise in a broad range of asset-based lending, leveraged facilities and secondary market transactions. An innovative business...

Heading legal and governance at one of Australia’s largest banks, Nathan Butler’s impressive transactional experience spans Asia Pacific, Europe and the US. He has provided strategic, board-level advice on some...

As general counsel of global metal mining company MMG, Nick Myers has exceptional cross-border transactional experience. He gained special recognition for his role in the company’s $5.85bn investment in Peruvian...

Appointed to his current position in September 2015, Nigel Lowry previously spent seven years heading the legal section of the Australian lending business in Macquarie’s corporate and asset finance group....

With almost 10 years’ experience within Australia’s leading transport fuel supplier and convenience retailer, Peter Lim was appointed to the position of general counsel and company secretary in January 2012,...

“With extensive FMCG and manufacturing experience, Peter Lloyd’s shining moments in-house have included complex acquisitions and divestments, alongside significant competition and regulatory issues accompanying them. Leading legal and company secretarial...

Managing a 20-strong cross-border team, Peter Lorbeer leads all upstream activity in Australia and is director of its national upstream holdings company. Shell Australia is the centre for the company’s...

Peter Tehan handles all legal and regulatory support across Beyond’s broad international media business. Since it began in 1984, the business has produced several leading TV titles, and developed sizeable...

Heading a 30-strong cross-functional team, Peter Tompkins has done a great deal to optimise support of Downer’s diverse business lines across the resource-management sector. This has included centralising all legal...

Thiess, a leading mining and construction business, made historic gains in 2015, with its first ever Americas project. The landmark $137m Chilean copper mining project looks set to signal the...

‘The ultimate success of a legal team is how intrinsic it is to the way business is done’, opines Pita Williams. ‘This flows from how well it collaborates with the...

‘Dairy is the back-bone of New Zealand and being part of an innovative and dynamic company is very exciting’, says Quentin Lowcay. ‘Everyone at Synlait is very committed to ensuring...

‘The role of the general counsel as a business leader is vastly underrated’, opines Rachel Besley. Heading a 20-strong team, she has supported Deloitte’s Australian operations through a period of...

Taking up his role in December 2013, Perth-based Randal Barker is the General Counsel of BHP Billiton’s Iron Ore business which is part of the BHP Billiton group headquartered in...

‘Skilled strategist’ Rebecca Hayward has been nominated for the pivotal role she played in Fortescue the $9bn T155 project, expanding Fortescue’s production capacity by 100 million tonnes per annum. The...

Rebecca Lim has held a variety of senior legal and business roles over 13 years at Westpac. Now as the chief compliance officer and group general counsel, Lim leads a...

Taking a central legal and commercial role at Australia’s public broadcaster, Rob Simpson is a highly respected industry figure. Sources praise his strong commercial and legal understanding in the face...

With an impressive in-house background including Pfizer, Southern Australia’s cabinet office, Constellation Wines and now global fast food giant Yum!, Sally Glover is seasoned in both major projects and complex...

Valued for his energy, ‘drive’ and ‘common sense approach’, Sam Barbaro has achieved a great deal in a short space of time. Less than a year ago, he was a...

Formerly GC for Australasia’s largest diversified healthcare distributer, EBOS, Sarah Turner joined REA Group as general counsel and company secretary in August 2015. Turner has gained respect for her transactional...

‘The business comes to the legal team not just for legal advice but for strategic and commercial advice’, Shoshana Shields says. ‘We are often seen as thought leaders in the...

Taking up her current role in November 2015, Stacey Hester currently acts as a senior in-house lawyer for Indue Ltd. In her previous role, also in the financial sector, Hester...

National Australia Bank’s $136.7bn wealth management partner MLC operates an extensive global portfolio; providing superannuation, investments, insurance and private wealth services to retail, corporate and institutional clients. With 15 years’ in-house financial...

‘Senior legal in-house counsel leadership in a complex corporate setting is an exciting and multi-dimensional challenge’, opines Steven van der Donk. Operating at the heart of Australia’s biggest ever infrastructure...

Stuart Thomas was already high profile in Australia’s entertainment industry before he joined Network 10, with former roles including Macquarie Radio Network’s COO and GC and Nine Network’s GC. Since...

A well-known and highly regarded member of Australia’s in-house legal community, Tig Pocock is firmly established as a thought leader in his industry. ‘He’s a pretty exceptional in-house lawyer’, says...

‘Fishing is a relatively volatile industry which creates business challenges’, says Tim Silverstone. ‘Especially in an environment where the economies in some of our traditional export markets have been struggling....

‘Taking on the role of general counsel at Vodafone was a big honour but also a challenge’, Trent Czinner says. ‘It meant shifting from operating as a task-focussed senior lawyer...

‘Being a business enabler and making a positive impact within our business and with my team is my aim’, Troy Swan says. ‘I am excited about what we can achieve...

‘An exceptional legal professional with strong business acumen’, award-winning corporate counsel Vanessa Oakley played a central role in New Zealand’s largest demerger, between Chorus and Telecom NZ in 2011. Her...

Vanessa Simons made her mark during her previous role at Meridian Energy when she led the due diligence and verification workstream of its IPO – the largest of its kind...

With the imminent $28bn purchase by leading Swiss insurer Ace, Chubb Insurance looks set to become part of a global commercial and P&C insurance leader. Australian GC Vivienne Webster has...