Macpherson Kelley Legal Practice Director Paul Kirton named Chair of International Legal Network Multilaw

Macpherson Kelley is pleased to announce that its Legal Practice Director, Paul Kirton, has been appointed as Chair of Multilaw, a global network of over 90 member firms working across 100 different countries. Multilaw delivers seamless, high-quality legal services across jurisdictions by leveraging the local expertise of its member firms. Paul’s role as Chair will be to lead Multilaw’s board, influencing the effective governance and strategic direction of the member organisation.

Paul has been involved in Multilaw since 2014, serving previously as Chair of its Asia Pacific Region before being elevated to Chair-Elect in September 2024 at Multilaw’s Annual Global Conference in Boston, USA.

His appointment comes at a time when businesses and governments around the globe are grappling with rapidly changing technology and an uncertain trade environment. Working primarily in Intellectual Property, Trade and Competition Law, making his skills, contacts and experiences uniquely relevant to the complexities faced by global markets.

Paul was born in West Africa and spent many of his educational years in North Africa and England, finishing university in Australia with Engineering and Law degrees. He is a global citizen, travelling frequently, and his client base is predominantly multi-nationals and Australian businesses with global operations.

Commenting on the role, Paul emphasised the importance of building international collaboration that’s embedded in local expertise. Trade and commerce, while currently facing challenges, is increasingly cross-border.

“I’m excited to commence my position as Chair of Multilaw. No network or law firm is better placed than Multilaw to deliver real, immediate value to clients with international projects and needs. Its members are local, full-service firms of exceptional quality, bringing legal expertise and local connections and knowledge to clients,” said Paul Kirton.

“It is a close network, with strong and trusted relationships and a spirit of collaboration and knowledge sharing. The exceptional service our clients need and expect is guaranteed with Multilaw’s culture, ethic and mutual trust,” he said.

Multilaw is a collaborative organisation, covering over 100 countries, whose members offer a unique service to companies navigating cross-border legal matters and multi-jurisdictional projects.  Multilaw’s CEO, Adam Cooke, says Paul’s embodiment of Multilaw’s mission and values will see him have a positive influence on the role.

“Paul has been a valued contributor to Multilaw for many years now, and we’ve benefited greatly from his legal experience and enthusiastic collaboration with both our membership and leadership team. As he steps into the role of Chair, there’s no doubt our organisation will continue to go from strength to strength,” said Adam Cooke.

Paul’s appointment also presents an opportunity for new and existing Macpherson Kelley clients operating in multiple jurisdictions. Macpherson Kelley is the only Australian member of Multilaw, offering clients access to more than 11,000 trusted lawyers across Europe, Asia, US and Africa.

“Cross-border commercial advice has been a cornerstone of what we offer our clients at Macpherson Kelley, and much of that has been rooted in our involvement with Multilaw. I’m excited for what this will mean for our clients as we strengthen our presence on an international stage,” said Paul.

Paul succeeds the dedicated term of Jorge Mondragón from Perez-Llorca Mexico. The Chair position at Multilaw has a tenure of two years.

About Multilaw

Multilaw is a leading global network of independent law firms, established in 1990 and headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The organization comprises more than 90 member firms operating in over 100 countries, with a collective legal workforce exceeding 11,000 professionals across more than 150 commercial centers worldwide.

Multilaw’s core mission is to deliver seamless, high-quality legal services across jurisdictions by leveraging the local expertise of its member firms. The network supports a wide range of clients, including multinational corporations, mid-sized enterprises, and private individuals, with comprehensive legal solutions tailored to the complexities of cross-border operations.

Governance and standards

Multilaw is governed by a management committee and board of directors representing the EMEA, Asia Pacific, and Americas regions. Member firms are carefully selected and undergo rigorous appraisals every three years to maintain the network’s high standards of legal excellence and client service.

Recognition

Multilaw has been consistently recognized as an Elite network by the Chambers Global Guide for eleven consecutive years. The network is also ranked in the highest band 1 in the Chambers Regional Guides for Asia Pacific, Latin America and Europe.

The information contained in this article is general in nature and cannot be relied on as legal advice nor does it create an engagement. Please contact one of our lawyers listed above for advice about your specific situation.