News & Insights

Macpherson Kelley proudly announces six promotions, effective 1 January 2024. Among these is the promotion of James McLaughlin to Principal Lawyer within the Melbourne Commercial team.

Having dedicated over 12 years to Macpherson Kelley, James has played a pivotal role in establishing the firm’s M&A team as an extremely skilled and high-quality unit. His exceptional legal skills, work ethic and strategic commercial approach have consistently earned the trust of clients and has impressed both referrers and advisors.

Throughout his tenure, James has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing the team and has actively contributed to the professional development of junior lawyers. His ability to delegate, teach and provide constructive feedback has been instrumental in shaping the success of the Commercial team.

Speaking on James’ promotion, National Managing Principal, Grant Guenther said, “Promoting an individual to Principal Lawyer is a big deal at Macpherson Kelley. James is an exceptional lawyer and has made an invaluable contribution to the firm and our clients. We are pleased to celebrate this significant milestone with him and our other lawyers who have been promoted in this round”.

In addition to James McLaughlin, Macpherson Kelley also announced the following promotions:

• Amelia Santilli: Promoted to Senior Associate in Melbourne’s Litigation team.
• Christina Zhang, Caitlyn Wessels, Samantha Tan, and Damien Quick: Promoted to Associate within their respective teams.

“These well-deserved promotions reflect Macpherson Kelley’s commitment to recognising and nurturing talent within the firm. We are deeply committed to providing career pathways for all Macpherson Kelley staff, so it’s always pleasing to see the professional growth of our team members,” says Grant.