Thursday 9 February 2017

Maddocks will be strengthening its Commonwealth Government practice in Canberra when it welcomes two partners from a rival firm.

Partners Anthony Willis and Caroline Atkins will join Maddocks from DLA Piper in a move that will see Maddocks become one of the largest and most experienced law firms in Canberra. The pair will bring whole-of-government experience in technology procurement, intellectual property and commercial contracting.

Anthony is a leading government commercial and contracting lawyer, having advised on some of Australia’s largest commercial and government transactions and disputes. He has been a partner at DLA since 2000 and has held a range of leadership positions at that firm, including Office Managing Partner, National Practice Group Leader IPT, National Practice Group Leader Government and was a member of the firm’s Board.

Caroline 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 is DLA’s Canberra Office Managing Partner and has been a partner of DLA since 2002 and is also a former Board member.

They will begin with Maddocks later in the year.

Maddocks CEO Michelle Dixon said these appointments will position the firm’s Commonwealth Government practice and Canberra office for long-term growth.

‘The experience and expertise that Anthony and Caroline will bring to Maddocks will allow us to offer greater resources and scale to our Commonwealth clients, particularly in the commercial, contracting and ICT space,’ Michelle said.

‘These appointments position Maddocks as a leading law firm in the Commonwealth Government space and add to our market-leading capabilities as a go-to firm for government generally, as well as commercial and ICT procurement matters particularly.’

Maddocks Chairman Mark Henry said that having a Commonwealth Government practice with greater depth and with a greater ability to act nationally on Commonwealth matters would have a flow-on effect for the firm’s broader government practice.

‘Government work is a cornerstone of Maddocks,’ Mark said.

‘Over the past five years we have made a significant investment into our Canberra office and our Commonwealth Government practice. That investment has led to a dynamic full service offering to our Commonwealth Government clients.

‘We are fully committed to the Canberra market and fully committed to making sure we are providing an outstanding service to our clients.’

Maddocks Canberra Partner in Charge and Commonwealth Sector Leader Simonetta Astolfi said the addition of Anthony and Caroline is evidence of Maddocks long-term investment in the Canberra and Commonwealth markets.

‘Our Canberra office has grown substantially since it opened its doors in 2012 and these latest appointments show that we are committed to providing an outstanding and full service to both the Canberra market and our Commonwealth Government clients,’ Simonetta said.