Michelle was appointed as CEO of Maddocks following 18 years at the firm, including 13 years as a partner and a period as leader of the firm’s commercial disputes team. She works with the Board and partnership to set and deliver the strategic direction for the firm. Under Michelle’s leadership, Maddocks was recognised as an Employer of Choice by Australasian Legal Lawyer, and received citation as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the WGEA.

Michelle is a strong advocate for the progression of women into leadership. She is an ambassador for the Workplace Gender Equity Agency’s (WGEA) ‘In Your Hands’ initiative for pay equity.

Michelle is also a champion of the Maddocks Women initiative, set up to help the firm’s female employees with their professional development as well as to promote the firm as an innovative and responsive employer for women.

As a litigation partner, Michelle has worked in a wide range of disputes with a particular focus on corporations’ matters, competition claims and trusts disputes. She has also acted in a number of disputes involving administrative and constitutional law issues.

Michelle has acted in proceedings before State and Federal Courts, the High Court, before specialist tribunals, in Royal Commissions and in a range of arbitrations. She regularly acts in urgent matters involving injunction hearings, including for search and freezing orders. Her experience spans both private sector companies, as well as public sector clients, including government departments, state-owned businesses and statutory authorities.

Michelle is listed as a Leading Litigation Lawyer in Best Lawyers 2014. She is recommended for Dispute Resolution in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific, 2014, 2013 and 2012 rankings: ‘Maddocks’ five-partner commercial disputes team provides “first-class service”‘.