Head of legal, corporate | BHP
Rising Star
Senior legal counsel | UGL
Associate general counsel | Deloitte
Senior legal counsel | Plenti
Assistant general counsel | Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand
Director, deputy general counsel | Nearmap
Paralegal | KOOKAÏ
Associate general counsel Asia | McKinsey & Company
Head of legal - group corporate | Domain
In-house counsel | Wesfarmers
Head of legal - corporate and energy | ENGIE - Australia and New Zealand
General counsel - products and propositions | Telstra
Deputy general counsel - underwriting | QBE Insurance
Head of legal, funds and asset management | Lendlease
Executive director legal - project delivery | Sydney Metro
Director, head of employment legal, Asia Pacific | Cognizant
Associate general counsel - Australia | South32
Governance specialist - disclosure and risk and audit committee | BHP
Senior specialist lawyer - corporate | Insurance Australia Group (IAG)
Senior legal counsel | I-MED Radiology Network
Senior legal counsel | Chartered Accountants, Australia and New Zealand
Group manager - legal | SHAPE Australia
Executive manager, legal | REA Group
Legal counsel | Adbri
Associate general counsel/director | Capgemini
Deputy general counsel | G8 Education
Deputy general counsel, Ocenia | MUFG Bank
Deputy general counsel Australia | Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Senior legal counsel | Virgin Australia
Associate general counsel | TE Connectivity
Legal counsel | Wesfarmers
Managing counsel | Goodman Group
General counsel for New Zealand and senior legal counsel for Australia | HP
Associate general counsel, Asia Pacific privacy legal | Meta
Senior legal counsel | Nano Digital Home Loans
Senior legal counsel | Woolworths Group
Head of legal, upstream and development | Origin Energy
Associate general counsel, Asia Pacific | CSL Seqirus
Executive director legal - construction and major projects | Transport for NSW
Deputy general counsel | Woods Bagot
Deputy chief legal officer | Western Sydney Airport
Legal counsel | Wesfarmers
Associate general counsel | Nearmap
Deputy general counsel, office of general counsel – defence legal | Australian Department of Defence
Head of legal - Australia and New Zeland | FIFA Women's World Cup Australia - New Zealand 2023
Deputy general counsel | Tabcorp
Head of anti money laundering operations | Macquarie Group
Senior corporate counsel and assistant company secretary | Nestlé
Group manager legal | Fortescue Metals Group
Senior legal counsel, corporate | Orica
Legal manager and senior lawyer, corporate advisory | Suncorp Group
Legal counsel | GeelongPort
Senior legal counsel | Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Associate general counsel | Autralian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
Senior legal counsel | ASX
Group counsel – commercial and technology | Ausgrid
Vice president, legal - disputes and regulatory | BHP
Deputy general counsel | Services Australia - Commonwealth Government
Deputy general counsel | carsales.com
Senior corporate counsel | Fonterra
Deputy general counsel - personal lines | QBE Insurance
Group counsel | Ausgrid
Manager legal - projects | Fortescue Metals Group
Associate general counsel and board secretary | Deloitte
Vice president legal, minerals Australia and employee relations | BHP
Senior legal counsel | NTT Australia
Senior legal counsel | UGL
Senior legal counsel | Scentre Group
Deputy general counsel | Vocus
Head of legal - Australia | Standard Chartered Bank
General counsel - M&A, treasury and corporate services | The Lottery Corporation
Associate general counsel | Pacific Equity Partners
Manager - corporate governance and compliance | Pacific National
Deputy general counsel - claims | QBE Insurance
Head of legal - Pacific | WeWork
Head of legal - private wealth | National Australian Bank
Deputy general counsel Asia Pacific and Latin America | Cochlear
Senior legal counsel | UGL
Lawyer | SBS
Legal counsel | Time & Place
General manager - legal | Nissan Motor Co. Australia
Head of strategy and operations, and senior legal counsel | AMP
Senior corporate counsel | Vocus
Associate general counsel, competition and regulatory | Meta
Group counsel | Canstar Group
Senior legal counsel, major construction projects | ARTC
Senior legal counsel, commercial litigation | AMP
Legal manager | Flinders Port Holdings
Senior legal counsel | Western Power
General counsel, corporate and international | Telstra
Senior legal counsel | Plenti
Group head of legal, regional hub | Asahi Beverages
Deputy general counsel | Port Authority of New South Wales
Senior legal counsel - Hunter Valley and Interstate | ARTC
Deputy general counsel and company secretary | G8 Education
Vice president legal | South32
Legal counsel | Wagners Holding Company
Group senior legal counsel | Ramsay Health Care
Legal manager, Australia | Yara International
Head of legal | Qantas Airways
Managing legal counsel | Coles Group
Senior legal counsel - Australia | Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
Associate general counsel, real estate and core infrastructure equity | AMP
Head of legal, dispute resolution group | ANZ Banking Group
Deputy general counsel | icare NSW
Senior legal counsel, M&A | Orica
Associate general counsel | PacketFabric
Legal manager and company secretary | UGL
Senior competition lawyer | Westpac
Senior legal counsel | Vocus
Senior legal counsel, disputes | Commonwealth Bank of Australia
Deputy general counsel | Meta
Head of legal - lending and corporate | Bank of Queensland
Head of legal | Arc Infrastructure
Senior legal counsel | Pacific National
Lawyer | St John of God Health Care
Deputy general counsel | CBRE
General manager - legal | BoardRoom Australia
Associate general counsel | BANXA
Privacy and product counsel | Atlassian
Senior legal counsel | Metricon
Senior legal counsel | EBOS Group
Executive counsel and deputy company secretary | Nine Entertainment
Associate general counsel | Meta
Corporate counsel | Rio Tinto
Legal counsel | nbn™ Australia
It was an honour to lead the research for The Legal 500 GC Powerlist: Rising Stars Australia 2022, the first edition after the imposed hiatus of the pandemic. The rising stars theme encapsulates a range of lawyers in a variety of industries, who are all doing incredible work in their field; this edition is an offshoot from our usual research in Australia, The GC Powerlist Australia, a publication which identifies the most senior in-house counsel within Australia. Interviews in this edition have touched upon the risks that counsel face in their industries, how up-and-coming lawyers give support to their legal functions, and challenges that they have overcome on their journeys.
In spite of the overall uncertainty of global and local markets following the Covid-19 pandemic, esteemed counsel in this publication were delighted to share their success in aiding their organisations to continue to thrive and grow. Caroline Corish, deputy general counsel at MUFG Bank, highlights the importance of flexibility in such uncertain markets, claiming that ‘the qualities and skills needed are flexibility, the ability to create an environment where inquisitiveness and willingness to learn are encouraged.’ Rising stars also highlight the importance of emotional intelligence and forming strong connections with, not only their legal team, but the wider business. Jessica Salvato, senior legal counsel at Scentre Group emphasised the importance of such connections, stating that ‘to be successful you need to have that deeper understanding of your company’s business, especially its commercial drivers and risk appetite, which are always pivoting and evolving.’
It is crucial to highlight the immense openness that in-house lawyers show in this edition when detailing the obstacles that they overcome to be in the position that they are today; their dedication to their roles and passion for the law is inspiring. Callum McNair, legal counsel at Adbri took inspiration from his parents, stating that ‘I saw through my parents’ commitment and hard work that although the hours are long, and family and personal time is often sacrificed, with commitment and dedication you can be successful and still give love and support to your family and friends.’ Comments like these, among others, touch on the importance of striking a work-life balance while progressing in the legal career, and the importance of having a support network, both of family and within their legal teams.
An overwhelming theme in this edition are the challenges that ESG pose, particularly relating to ‘climate change, indigenous engagement, water, human rights, and biodiversity,’ as stated by Jamie Stollery, vice president legal (disputes and regulatory) at BHP. The shift towards improvement in these areas has been immense, with numerous individuals featured in this publication contributing to such improvement. Sarah Friedrich, senior legal counsel at Pacific Nation, highlighted one of her most significant achievements being the implementation of ‘a Modern Slavery programme and action plan for the company,’ while Prachi Tygai, senior legal counsel, M&A, at Orica highlighted her efforts addressing climate change, particularly ‘mitigating our carbon footprint, and operating businesses in a sustainable manner and engaging with communities where the business operates.’
We would like to congratulate and thank all the in-house counsel featured in this edition on their incredible achievements in the legal industry, and on joining the list of hundreds of the most trusted, effective and innovative in-house lawyers across the globe. It was a pleasure to speak to all included and gain insight into the markets of Australia.
Elena Lewis | Lead Researcher – GC Powerlist Rising Stars Australia 2022
Francisco Faria e Castro | Lead Researcher – GC Powerlist Rising Stars Australia 2022
Sara Maggi | Research Analyst
