Piper Alderman is delighted to announce 17 promotions across the firm, including seven new partners, with effect from 1 July 2018.
Of our seven newly appointed partners, five are located in our Brisbane office, doubling the Brisbane partnership to ten in the new financial year. We also welcome three female partners, taking our female partner numbers to 23% of the national partnership.
Our New Partners
Mark Askin, Real Estate – Brisbane
Mark joined Piper Alderman with Peter Dwyer in 2013 as a Senior Associate and was promoted to Special Counsel in 2016. Mark specialises in the acquisition, disposal and development of commercial, industrial and retail properties. He also has extensive experience in retail, commercial and industrial leasing, acting for both landlords and tenants in most Australian states. Mark acts for private investors, developers, transport companies, Australian REITs, local and state governments, body corporates, landlords and tenants.
Valerie Blacker, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
Valerie joined Piper Alderman in 2009 as a lawyer and has risen in the ranks over the last 9 years. Valerie has a focus on funded litigation matters. She is responsible for a number of large complex matters involving contractual disputes, representative actions, building and construction and professional negligence. She regularly appears in Courts interstate. Valerie plays a key role in maintaining and developing relationships with the firm’s major clients who include financial institutions, large corporations, litigation funders and private clients. Valerie is currently on parental leave and will return to practice in December.
Maria Capati, Commercial – Brisbane
Maria joined Piper Alderman with Peter Dwyer in 2013 as a Senior Associate and was promoted to Special Counsel in 2016. Maria specialises in acting for transport companies and has particular experience in advising Australia’s largest transport operators and State associations on major government public passenger service contracts in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia. She also has significant experience in negotiating and advising on the acquisition or disposal of transport businesses by way of asset and/or share sale throughout Australia. Maria has returned to the firm this week from parental leave.
Will Fennell, Commercial and Tax - Adelaide
Will joined Piper Alderman as a graduate and moved into a Special Counsel role in 2015. His practice focuses on providing specialist taxation and also general commercial advice. Will acts for a diverse range of clients ranging from individuals through to ASX listed companies. Will also has niche expertise in the not-for-profit sector, advising on a range of issues including restructuring, tax endorsement and corporate governance. Will has a Master of Tax from Melbourne University and is a member of the Tax Institute’s Professional Development Committee.
Adam Rinaldi, Real Estate – Adelaide
Adam joined Piper Alderman in 2014 as an Associate and has quickly moved his way up to partnership. Adam’s practice includes all areas of property, infrastructure and contract law and he has particular expertise advising clients in relation to mixed use projects, retail and office developments and retail and commercial tenancies. He has acted in relation to the sale and purchase of numerous large industrial sites, shopping centres and CBD office buildings. Adam is a recommended lawyer in the Legal 500 Asia-Pacific for Real Estate in the 2018 edition. He is a member of the Property Council of Australia’s Taxation Committee (SA Division) which provides technical advice on South Australian revenue legislation, including stamp duty, land tax and tax design.
Lillian Rizio, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
Lillian joined Piper Alderman as a Senior Associate in 2013 and was promoted to Special Counsel in 2016. Lillian practices in all forms of dispute resolution with a primary focus on corporate and commercial disputes. She acts for a vast range of clients, including litigation funders, large companies and financial institutions. Lillian has experience in both prosecuting and defending large complex disputes in various jurisdictions.
Josh Steele, Corporate – Brisbane
Josh joined Piper Alderman in 2013 as a Senior Associate. Josh specialises in public and private acquisitions and equity capital market transactions, focussing on the energy and resources sectors and SME growth companies. Josh also regularly provides general corporate and commercial advice, including providing advice in respect of shareholder agreements, director’s duties and shareholder and boardroom disputes, corporate restructuring and service and supply agreements.
Managing Partner, Tony Britten-Jones commented:
“As a firm we are continuously looking for opportunities to develop and promote our internal talent. Our new partner appointments are reflective of our firm’s strategy for growth in a competitive market. The promotion of our lawyers is a direct result of their technical excellence, superior client service as well as strong team and personal performance. It cannot be said too many times that what drives our firm is the talent and dedication of our people, combined with their desire to innovate and collaborate with others.”
“We are also delighted to promote three of our female lawyers to partnership, all of whom have taken or are taking parental leave in 2018. Piper Alderman is supportive of our working mothers and the new partner promotions endorse our commitment to flexible working.”
“We would like to congratulate all 17 lawyers on their recent promotions and thank them for their ongoing and significant contribution to the firm.”
The complete list of promotions with effect from 1 July 2018 is:
Partner
Mark Askin, Real Estate – Brisbane
Valerie Blacker, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
Maria Capati, Commercial – Brisbane
Will Fennell, Taxation - Adelaide
Adam Rinaldi, Real Estate – Adelaide
Lillian Rizio, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
Josh Steele, Corporate – Brisbane
Special Counsel
Lucy Kenny, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
McKenzie Moore, Dispute Resolution – Sydney
Jen Tan, Corporate – Adelaide
Senior Associate
Antony Disciscio, Dispute Resolution – Adelaide
Matthew Mennilli, Dispute Resolution – Sydney
Associate
Nicholas Allen, Dispute Resolution – Melbourne
Conrad Banasik, Dispute Resolution – Melbourne
Ryan Eather, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
Alexander Sloan, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
Genevieve Yates, Dispute Resolution – Brisbane
Mid-year promotions as of 1 January 2018 included:
Senior Associate
Emily Haar, Employment – Adelaide
Angela Burford, Private Client Services – Adelaide
Associate
Rhianne Caruso, Real Estate – Adelaide
Liberty Privopoulos, Corporate – Adelaide
Peter Smith, Corporate – Adelaide
