Monday 1 May 2017

Three partners and 10 lawyers and support staff have this week joined Maddocks’ Canberra office in a significant shake up of the legal market in Australia’s capital.

Anthony Willis, Caroline Atkins and Gavan Mackenzie began today as partners after joining Maddocks from global firm DLA Piper. Ten lawyers and support staff from the DLA Piper Canberra team have also moved with them to Maddocks.

Maddocks Canberra Partner-in-Charge Simonetta Astolfi said these additions will be significant for Maddocks’ Commonwealth Government clients.

‘The decision to bring in DLA Piper’s Canberra team was based purely on one factor: what is best for our clients’, Simonetta said.

‘Seen through the lens of what we can now offer Commonwealth Government clients, this is a game changer for the Canberra legal market.

‘Maddocks has already established a strong reputation since we opened in Canberra five years ago for the work we do in the areas of procurement, probity, disputes and administration law. The addition of Anthony, Caroline and Gavan and their team augments our offering with market-leading experience in whole-of-government ICT procurement and contracting, intellectual property and general commercial law.’

Anthony Willis is a leading government commercial and contracting lawyer, having advised on some of Australia’s largest commercial and government transactions and disputes. He was appointed partner in 1996 and held a range of leadership positions at DLA Piper, including Office Managing Partner, Asia-Pacific Practice Group Leader IPT, National Practice Group Leader Government and was a member of the firm’s Board. He is ranked Band 1 for Government Law by Chambers.

Caroline Atkins is widely recognised as one of Australia’s best technology and intellectual property lawyers with extensive experience in Commonwealth Government procurement and contracting, including involvement in whole-of-government ICT procurement since the early 1990s. Caroline was appointed a partner in 2002, was DLA Piper’s Canberra Office Managing Partner and was also a member of the firm’s Board.

Gavan Mackenzie practices in the areas of information and technology outsourcing, government procurement and commercial law. Gavan has developed an outstanding reputation for his work with government on information and technology outsourcing, government procurement and commercial law.

The other lawyers to join Maddocks are: Katherine Armytage (Special Counsel); Russell Wilson (Special Counsel); Janet Courtis (Senior Associate); Jasen Hartman-Higuchi (Senior Associate); Belinda Chapman (Lawyer); and Varsha Srinivasan (Graduate).

Maddocks Chair Mark Henry said the firm was firmly committed to the long-term, strategic growth of the Commonwealth Government practice and the Canberra office.

‘Government across all levels is core business for Maddocks,’ Mark said.

‘We made it clear when we opened in Canberra in 2012 that we were here for the long haul. The arrival of Anthony, Caroline, Gavan and their team is further evidence of that commitment.’