Could you share an example of a time when you came up with an innovation that improved how your legal team works and did not come at a large expense? 

The key to any successful team is collaboration. The most successful teams are made up of people who bring different skills, gifts and perspectives but are united by mutual respect and appreciation for each other. Spending time listening to each other comes at little expense to an organisation, but its positive impact on how a team works together is enormous. I have brought this mindset to every group and team that I have led over the years. Getting to know my team, their hobbies and interests builds trust. As a lawyer, trust is the cornerstone of all our relationships. I have been impressed by the importance of mutual respect and trust in every team I have led. I have also lived this ethos in interacting with team members and internal stakeholders. When people trust and respect you, they come to you with their issues and problems, and that’s where, as lawyers, my team and I can make a genuinely positive impact on how our organisation is run and presents itself to the public. 

What are the most significant cases or transactions that your legal team has recently been involved in?  

My team and I have recently worked on the most significant case, the USD$180m damages case brought against Nuix Limited in the Federal Court of Australia by the company’s former CEO. The case related to a claim by the former CEO, which alleged that the company had failed to transfer his options in the company, amounting to approximately 22.7 million shares. However, at first instance, Justice Halley of the Federal Court found in favour of Nuix Limited, declaring that the former CEO has “two insurmountable hurdles” in his case, which alleged that Nuix breached the 2008 options agreement and owed him 22.7 million shares. In this Federal Court case, Justice Halley found that the former CEO only had rights to 453,273 options and could only be exercised upon selling the ‘whole’ business. The Federal Court, therefore, held that there was no breach of agreement as there was no sale of the business. The judgment in this case was a massive win for my organisation, which was reflected in the Australian market, which saw our share price on the day the judgment was handed down, increase by 40%. 

What is a cause, business related or otherwise, that you care about, and why? 

A cause that I care about and believe is important for organisations to acknowledge and invest in, relates to our mental well-being. Celebrating and acknowledging days such as R U OK Day is a fantastic start to looking after the mental well-being of employees. However, it needs to be more than one day. The importance of mental well-being and looking after one another needs to be imbedded into an organisation culture. Mental well-being needs to be embraced from the very top of an organisation, so that it trickles down into the operation of every team with that organisation. When you care for and protect the mental well-being of each of your employees, it is the organisation overall that truly reaps the rewards.