Australian law firms are increasingly helping clients get a handle on the pace of change their businesses face, and are transforming the legal industry’s innovation agenda in the process.

‘Innovation’ is a loaded word for law firms. For the profession, it represents the discomfort of change, necessary as it may be. For BigLaw, it is an essential ingredient for business strategy.

Many firms have approached innovation in earnest this year, attempting to unpack the buzzword in a dynamic regulatory and technological climate. While firms are approaching innovation differently, the common aim is to harness innovation in a way that will both benefit clients and upgrade business processes.

Speaking to Lawyers Weekly, Allens partner Emma Warren (pictured) said clients have been noticeably overwhelmed by the pace of change. In response, the firm is aiming to provide collaborative services or, as Ms Warren put it, to “co-create solutions”.

“Innovation is very much a word that’s bandied around at the moment but for us, innovation is about talking to our clients and creating bespoke solutions in the way we deliver services to them,” Ms Warren said.

“I think the days of being a reactive problem-solver for the direct problem that comes through the door are over for lawyers,” she said.

Recent efforts by Allens to understand the diverse needs of its client base have shown that legal services lend themselves well to being part of what the firm calls “bespoke business solutions”. Allens has tailored its services from a number of entry points, from the types of products on offer to pricing and staffing options, as well as the opportunity to collaborate in a more client-involved, solution-finding process.

“Clients are calling out for lawyers to be collaborative problem-solvers. They want lawyers to work together with them to come up with solutions that reflect their challenges as a business, and not just address a legal issue in isolation,” Ms Warren said.

While clients are under pressure to deal with changes that are occurring at a faster pace than ever, Ms Warren observed that Australia’s legal market is responding actively. At Allens, a strategic emphasis has been placed on evoking the “voice” of the client to inform the future direction of the firm.

In October the firm launched a new end-to-end data governance practice to operate across its offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

“We listen to what clients say and we bring that voice of the client into formulating our policies and our strategies across clients, team, community, people and innovation,” Ms Warren said.

“The pace of change is something which we are seeing is a challenge for our clients in terms of their businesses needing to be adaptive and embrace technology, but also the regulatory environment needs to keep pace with that change as well,” she said.

A global firm has welcomed five professionals to the partnership across its Sydney and Melbourne offices.

Herbert Smith Freehills has welcomed new partners Heidi Asten, Elizabeth Charlesworth, Andrew Griffiths, Richard Wilkinson and Erin Wyeth, who have been promoted to their new positions from the firm’s project finance, projects and environment and planning teams.

Ms Asten is based in HSF’s Melbourne office and brings to her new role extensive experience in all aspects of environmental and planning law.

She has advised governments and private clients on all areas of federal and state environmental and planning approvals, as well as heritage and land access matters. She also specialises in Indigenous cultural heritage issues.

Ms Charlesworth is an experienced project finance expert based in Sydney.

She specialises in greenfield developments for energy and infrastructure matters and assets, as well as acquisitions and divestments of such assets.

Her career has seen her act for both financiers and sponsors on a range of transactions across the sector, covering the UK, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

Mr Griffiths is also Sydney-based and brings to the partnership significant knowledge across a wide range of construction and infrastructure projects, as well as public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Australia and the UK.

He has acted for governments, project sponsors and contractors across a variety of sectors, including roads, rail, healthcare, education, defence, transport, power, water treatment and property development.

Mr Wilkinson works in HSF’s Melbourne office but has experience advising clients in multiple jurisdictions across Australia.

His extensive project delivery experience extends to PPPs, including engineering, procurement, and construction contracts, design and construction contracts, alliance agreements, operation and maintenance agreements, as well as off-take, connection and joint venture agreements.

Ms Wyeth is a specialist projects legal professional based in Melbourne. She brings to the partnership specialist knowledge in infrastructure and project development, with a particular focus on secondary market privatisations and PPPs.

She also has experience working on projects across Australia and in the Middle East.

HSF regional managing partner for Asia and Australia, Sue Gilchrist, said the five new partners represent the great depth of talent in the firm’s senior ranks.

“Recognising internal talent, and promoting the people our teams want to be led by and our clients want championing their projects and transactions, is fundamental to the strong and sustainable future of our firm,” Ms Gilchrist said.

“It’s also particularly pleasing to see that our talented female lawyers have such a strong representation in this round of promotions, and in areas of practice that are traditionally male-dominated.

“On behalf of the firm, I’d like to congratulate our new partners, each of whom have committed to all that we believe partnership in a great firm like ours entails, and who possess the integrity, passion and dedication to become successful future leaders here.”

HSF global head of practice – finance, real estate and projects, Jason Ricketts, said the five new partner appointments across the three teams came at an “opportune time”, following the recently announced departure of a number of partners from those practices.

“Following the announced departures we took the opportunity to look afresh at the way we approach the market, consider the immediate and future needs of our clients and contemplate the ideal resourcing strategy going forward,” Mr Ricketts said.

“We’ve had a growing pool of very senior, extremely experienced lawyers in those teams and we are delighted that we have been able to provide this opportunity to this very talented group of practitioners.

“These five new partners bring vigour, as well as fresh insights and perspectives that will inspire our people, excite our clients and help ensure that we remain the leading global infrastructure and renewables practice in the region.”

The Australian firm has announced the appointments of two special counsel, with both joining from Bartier Perry.

Both Eileen Meehan (pictured left) and James Whiley (pictured right) have been welcomed to Hall & Wilcox’s Sydney office, where they will work in the business law firms’ private clients team.

Ms Meehan brings to her new role extensive experience in estate planning, having joined Hall & Wilcox from Bartier Perry where she was consulting to the private clients team.

Prior to this, Ms Meehan was a director in PwC’s private clients team where she specialised in estate planning also.

Meanwhile, Mr Whiley brings to his new role specialist expertise in estate planning, dispute resolution and succession planning for high net worth clients.

He too joins Hall & Wilcox from Bartier Perry where he was senior associate and responsible for a large portfolio of clients.

Mr Whiley’s prior experience includes a succession and estate planning role at PwC.

Hall & Wilcox partner Emma Woolley, who heads up the firm’s private clients practice, said the new appointees add significant depth and expertise to its national team.

“Eileen and James bring the knowledge, experience and understanding required for the delicate and often complex business of estate planning,” she said.

“We are seeing a significant increase in clients looking for specialist help with their personal estate planning and it is great to have James and Eileen in the team to help meet this need. They both look to understand what clients need, and we are confident their expertise will be highly valued by our clients.”

An Australian firm has welcomed its first partner appointment since it opened its doors in 2009.

Griffin Legal has announced the appointment of Carina Zeccola (pictured) as partner to the firm, commencing her new role on 1 January 2017.

Ms Zeccola has been at Griffin Legal for the bulk of her legal career, having joined the firm in 2013 in a law graduate position, before moving up the ranks to a solicitor, then to an associate and senior associate soon after.

Ms Zeccola brings to her new partner role extensive experience in commercial and government matters, having assisted clients through complex deals, and guiding government through procurement and projects.

“Carina brings a unique and fresh perspective to Griffin Legal, and our clients,” a spokesperson for Griffin Legal said.

“Those that work with Carina also know her dedication and skill – an undoubtable asset.

“Carina has been the driving force behind several initiatives within Griffin Legal as the firm, and profession, continues to navigate through this exciting period of change. We look forward to working with her to ensure Griffin Legal remains an industry leader in this regard.”

The spokesperson noted that Ms Zeccola’s appointment marks a significant milestone for the firm.

“This is Griffin Legal’s first appointment of a Partner since the firm began in 2009,” the spokesperson said.

Thomson Geer recruits infrastructure expert

Simon Ralton (pictured) has been appointed as special counsel at Thomson Geer. He joins from MinterEllison, where he was a senior associate for 12 years.

Mr Ralton has advised a number of principal and contractor clients on major construction and infrastructure projects in Australia.

He has broad experience covering both the front-end and back-end work of construction and infrastructure projects, from drafting and negotiating project documentation to advising clients in litigation and other forms of dispute resolution.

Mr Ralton has also advised on a number of significant construction financing and M&A transactions. He brings to his new role an engineering background, having previously held engineering and management roles on mining and rail projects.

This latest appointment comes after Thomson Geer announced earlier this year that it had recruited employment law specialist David Davies.

Mr Davies joined the firm from Sparke Helmore.