Colin Biggers & Paisley announces 1 January promotions

Colin Biggers & Paisley is pleased to announce their latest round of promotions, with eleven lawyers appointed to senior positions.

Effective 1 January 2021, Jane O'Neill has been promoted to partner, Alistair Boughton, Tim Coghlan, Jean-Paul Fraticelli, John McGirr and Alexandra Terrill have been promoted to special counsel, and Madeleine Copley, Courtney Macdade, Natasha Messing, Maryanne Pollifrone and Nelson Ridges have been promoted to senior associate.

Jane O'Neill joined Colin Biggers & Paisley in 2017 as special counsel in the insurance team. Jane advises clients in regard to insurance products and coverage issues, particularly professional indemnity and management liability policies, the management of claims, policy drafting and review, regulatory and risk management, and financial services. She also represents clients in contentious coverage disputes and acts as defence counsel in litigated claims.

Alistair Boughton joined the insurance team in 2016. Alistair has particular expertise in general liability and personal injury litigation, including WorkCover and public liability matters and in particular, complex multi-party court proceedings. His practice involves investigation of claims and advice on indemnity, liability, quantum and strategy in conjunction with managing and optimizing the claims management process of both litigated and un-litigated claims. He has acted in litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants and I have extensive experience in preparation of evidence, drafting pleadings, settlement negotiations, mediations and preparing for and instructing at trial.

Timothy Coghlan joined Colin Biggers & Paisley in 2017 as a senior associate. He has extensive experience working in insurance and commercial litigation for some of Australia's largest insurers. Timothy has acted in a number public liability, product liability and property damage matters. He has a depth of practical experience in litigation including advising on claims brought against local Council, residential home owners, building companies, supermarkets, shopping centres, hospitals, owners of commercial premises, exhibition centres, logistics companies and retail stores.

Jean-Paul Fraticelli joined Colin Biggers & Paisley's property and development team in 2017. He has had over 10 years' experience working in all areas of property law. Jean-Paul has particular expertise in property developments and special projects including, acquisitions, disposals, off-the-plan sales and property due diligence. In addition to this, Jean-Paul also has expertise in commercial, retail and industrial leasing.

John McGirr joined the practice's insurance team in 2018. John is an experienced litigator with broad experience in general commercial litigation, and has a particular interest in solicitor negligence and medical negligence litigation. John works closely with his clients, developing a strong understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of a matter in the early stages to advise his clients on liability, quantum and strategy as soon as possible.

Alexandra Terrill joined Colin Biggers & Paisley's employment and safety team in 2017. Alexandra has considerable experience providing practical and tailored solutions in relation to various workplace law matters across the employment lifecycle and post-employment matters. Alexandra advises clients across various industries, including education, aged care, health care, retail, security, labour hire and the public sector, and has also worked on some significant industrial relations cases including the Fair Work Commission’s penalty rates review and was involved in acting for a publicly listed company in a contempt of court and secondary boycott matter that proceeded to the High Court of Australia.

Madeleine Copley joined Colin Biggers & Paisley as a graduate in 2017. Her work is largely concerned with property disputes and in particular, statutory valuation appeals, compulsory acquisition matters and mining disputes, as well as general property disputes. She is frequently involved in matters heard by the Land Court as she acts for landowners in statutory valuation appeals against valuations of land issued for rating and land tax purposes; for landowners and local governments as constructing authorities in relation to compulsory acquisition matters and for landowners in disputes about the grant of, and compensation for, mining interests.

Courtney Macdade joined the practice's restructuring and insolvency team in 2017. Courtney has experience in numerous aspects of commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Since her admission as a solicitor, Courtney has practiced primarily in insolvency and restructuring, acting for liquidators, bankruptcy trustees and banks. She is experienced in litigating in the Local, District and Supreme Courts of Queensland and New South Wales and the Federal Court of Australia.

Natasha Messing joined Colin Biggers & Paisley's corporate and commercial team in 2017. Natasha is experienced in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, commercial contract review and advice, contract drafting and negotiation, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance across a range of areas.

Maryanne Pollifrone joined Colin Biggers & Paisley in 2016. Maryanne assists her clients with their personal and business succession planning to facilitate the transfer of their wealth. Maryanne also works on deceased estate matters preparing Court documents to arrange for the transfer of assets in accordance with Wills or under intestacy law.

Nelson Ridges joined Colin Biggers & Paisley in 2019. Nelson acts on behalf of clients and for insurers as both defence and coverage counsel with a focus on professional indemnity disputes. Nelson also has extensive experience defending public liability matters and pursuing subrogated recoveries on behalf of insurers.

For more information please contact Linda Branton on 02 8281 4594 or linda.branton@cbp.com.au.
 
About Colin Biggers & Paisley

Colin Biggers & Paisley was founded over a century ago. Today we are a legal practice with 69 partners and 480 employees. We are highly regarded for our expertise in construction, insurance, property, government, commercial litigation and dispute resolution, banking and finance, corporate and commercial, employment and safety, planning and environment, restructuring and insolvency, transport and logistics. We act for major corporations, financial institutions, insurance companies, government departments and individuals. We have both the capacity and the expertise to deliver on complex national and multinational projects.

Colin Biggers & Paisley is based in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Through our growing Middle East Practice and our affiliation with ADVOC Asia, ADVOC International, ADVOC Europe and ADVOC Latin America, we are able to offer access to quality legal advice around the globe.

We launched the Colin Biggers & Paisley Foundation in 2015, with a core focus on promoting and protecting the rights of women and children in Australia and abroad through an innovative mix of pro bono legal services, volunteering and charitable contributions.