Lauren celebrated her five-year anniversary at Hall & Wilcox in March 2023. Lauren shares some highlights from her time at the firm.
Lauren joined the firm as a Lawyer, part of the high-quality, experienced and well-connected public sector team led by Kathryn Howard. Lauren was promoted to Senior Associate in 2019 and Special Counsel in 2022.
Lauren is a specialist commercial litigation lawyer. Her expertise includes commercial, public sector and intellectual property disputes, and she currently acts for both public sector and commercial clients. Lauren especially excels at managing complex and large-scale litigation matters – she is a diligent worker and someone that clients want in the trenches.
In this post-COVID world, Lauren works flexibly across our Melbourne and Perth offices.
We asked Lauren a few questions to reflect on her five years at the firm.
One of my earliest Hall & Wilcox memories...
is, funnily enough, acting against Hall & Wilcox while at my previous firm. I was instructing on a large-scale contractual dispute in the Supreme Court against Hall & Wilcox, specifically Graydon Dowd and Kathryn Sharpe, my now fellow CDR colleagues, who were so courteous to work with and against. It gave me a wonderful insight into how a party on the other side can conduct themselves in a considerate and professional manner (considering, unfortunately, that isn’t always the experience with one’s opponents). Not long after the conclusion of this trial, I moved over to Hall & Wilcox, and I felt I had been gifted with a soft introduction of sorts, a real insight into life on the ground at my new firm.
A recent great achievement / highlight / result...
was bringing together women who work across the Victorian Valuation, Compensation and Planning List in the Supreme Court for a stimulating luncheon event, the third in a series I have helped to organise with Kathryn Howard since being at Hall & Wilcox. With the Honourable Justice Richards and the Honourable Justice Quigley at the helm, this event encourages invigorating conversation, and is aimed at empowering and connecting women working in this space. I think it is an event that works to bolster the profile of Hall & Wilcox in the public sector space, and is certainly a highlight of mine.
When people ask me about working at Hall & Wilcox I tell them...
about the extremely unique and well patronised emerging art program we run. I have been fortunate to be on the Melbourne Art Committee since I first started at the firm, which has allowed me to work closely with artists, host and speak at the shows, as well as purchase some incredible art. I often invite friends along to our art shows, both in Melbourne and in Perth, who cannot believe that we have a committee dedicated to supporting local artists, and I think it really highlights the diverse programs encouraged at Hall & Wilcox.
Outside of Hall & Wilcox, you’ll find me...
currently, completing a wine course with my partner (really, he and I are largely trying to legitimise our love of wine), building upon my moderate Croatian language skills with classes, and generally appreciating any form of the arts. Give me the theatre or a gallery, followed by a great Melbourne meal and some fine wine and I wonder why I ever go back to Perth (my hometown). That being said, in summer, Perth beaches and time with family is a truly unbeatable combination.