Maddocks Appoints Paul Woods as Chief Executive Officer

Leading Australian law firm Maddocks has announced the appointment of Paul Woods as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2026. Paul will succeed current CEO David Newman, with both leaders working closely over recent months to ensure a smooth transition.

Paul worked at major Australian and UK firms before joining Maddocks in 2005.  He has been a partner at Maddocks for nearly 20 years. A Construction & Projects partner based in Melbourne, he has served in key leadership roles including as a member of the Maddocks Board and as the firm’s Partnership Chair from 2023 to 2025. These roles saw Paul work closely with outgoing CEO David Newman on firm strategy and operations, giving him deep insight into the business and strong relationships across the partnership. 

Maddocks also takes this opportunity to recognise the significant contribution of outgoing CEO David Newman. Over six years of leadership, David has driven sustained firm growth, strengthened employee engagement, and set a clear and disciplined strategic direction. His leadership has been instrumental in positioning Maddocks strongly for the future, leaving the firm well placed to build on this momentum in its next phase.

In outlining his vision for the firm, Paul emphasised disciplined strategic growth and a deepened focus on clients, innovation, and talent. 

He identified key priorities such as enhancing the client experience, and attracting and developing top legal talent to support the firm’s growth. He also stressed the importance of continuing to strengthen the firm’s market reputation, and integrating new technologies like AI responsibly to improve service delivery and meet evolving client needs.

“I am honoured to lead Maddocks into its next chapter,” Mr Woods said. “My vision is for Maddocks to be widely regarded as Australia’s best national, independent law firm – the high-quality alternative to the ‘big 8’ firms – by delivering exceptional service to our clients, fostering a strong culture, and driving disciplined growth.”

Maddocks’ Partnership Chair, Mark Henry welcomed the appointment, saying, “Paul is an outstanding leader who brings deep knowledge of Maddocks, strong strategic judgment and a genuine commitment to our people, clients and future. The Board is confident he is the right person to lead the firm into its next phase of growth and build on the strong foundation already in place.”