Australian Law Firms Gilchrist Connell and Moray & Agnew Strengthen Leadership Teams

• Gilchrist Connell and Moray & Agnew make major senior appointments
• Four senior associates have been installed in other offices
• The appointments are to further capabilities in insurance and property law in Australia

Gilchrist Connell and Moray & Agnew have appointed senior-level staff to strengthen their insurance law and property law skills throughout Australia. Gilchrist Connell has beefed up its insurance law team by hiring two special counsel in Perth, Erica Dobson and Ellie McGrory, and four senior associates in its other offices.

Erica will be part of the firm's national health law practice, where she will counsel on medical negligence, personal injury claims, and life insurance litigation. She has experience on both sides, both representing plaintiffs and defendants. Her appointment comes in the wake of the recruitment of Karine Marianne as the principal lawyer for the firm's New South Wales health law team, where she handles Medicare-related issues.

Elie has a deep background in personal injury litigation, with a focus on workers' compensation and liability claims, having been admitted to practice in 2016. Ellie has represented insurer and corporate clients at a national and international level. In 2021, she was included in Insurance Business Australia's Young Guns.

Managing Principal Richard Wood said the appointments bolster the firm's strength in core areas and reinforce its capacity to deal with complex insurance issues for clients. "Erica and Ellie's special counsel appointments are important for supporting our national capability in their areas of expertise. We believe that their skills and dedication will be of significant benefit to our clients and help us continue to thrive," he said.

Moray & Agnew has strengthened its property law team with the appointment of Darren Marx as a partner in its Melbourne office. Darren will collaborate with partners David Gandolfo, Briony Kerr, and Thomas Zilm. With more than 26 years of practice in law, Darren is a partner-in-private-practice as well as in-house counsel. His fields of specialization include property acquisition, sale, leasing, and development with a focus on the hospitality and leisure sector, such as hotels, gaming centers, and tourist developments.

A study by Finder, released in November 2024, indicated that 69 percent of Australian insured homeowners had seen their premiums rise over the last year, affecting around 6.4 million homes.  "Drawing on my extensive experience in all aspects of property law, I look forward to coming on board and contributing to the firm's ongoing prosperity and growth, advising our clients through the changing property market," Darren said. "The firm's focus on excellence, innovation, and client-serving service is entirely aligned with my professional objectives and values.”