Clayton Utz announces 2017 new partner appointments

  David Benson, Commercial Litigation, Perth

David joined the Clayton Utz Commercial Litigation team in Perth in 2005. A formidable litigator known for delivering cost effective solutions to  problems confronting businesses, David regularly acts for clients in significant cases in the superior courts of Australia. David also has an IP/IT practice that extends to both contentious and non-contentious matters across the full gamut of intellectual property rights, and he advises financial service providers on regulatory issues.

  Christy Miller, Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety, Brisbane

Christy joined the Clayton Utz Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety Practice in 2004, and has over 14 years' specialist experience in complex employment, industrial and discrimination law. Based in Brisbane, Christy acts for a range of public sector and private sector clients locally and nationally, providing practical guidance and support in navigating the often difficult and sensitive legal and reputational risks that can arise in employment-related matters and litigation. Christy has established a reputation among her clients for outstanding client service and working collaboratively with them to achieve practical, commercial outcomes. 

  Pip Mitchell, Commercial Litigation, Melbourne

Pip has practised in Clayton Utz's Commercial Litigation team since 2003. Based in Melbourne, Pip acts for a range of public and private sector clients who value her strategic and practical approach to their legal, reputational and commercial concerns. She has built a formidable reputation in the market for her technical expertise in public law and general commercial disputes, and in managing both high profile complex litigation, and high volume judicial review and merits review applications. Pip's appointment strengthens Clayton Utz's eastern seaboard offering as the leading private sector provider of government legal services.

  Kounny Rattley, Corporate, M&A and Capital Markets, Sydney

Kounny joined Clayton Utz in 2003 and has built a reputation among her clients for practical, solutions-focused advice on M&A and Private Equity transactions. Kounny acts for clients in a range of industry sectors, most notably health, financial services and consumer goods, on all aspects of M&A including management and leveraged buy-outs, capital raisings, restructures and joint ventures.  Kounny's clients praise her ability to listen to their needs and work with them to achieve commercial outcomes.

  Cilla Robinson, Workplace Relations, Employment & Safety, Sydney

Cilla has practised in the Workplace, Relations, Employment & Safety team at Clayton Utz since 2002. She has over 14 years' experience advising in all aspects of industrial relations and employment law, acting for both government and private sector clients. Cilla has a depth of strategic knowledge relevant to enterprise transformation and the ongoing imperative to leverage core businesses for new growth. This experience, coupled with her strategic involvement in numerous industrial strategies for both government and private sector clients, is a valued skillset in the management of modern workforces. Clients also value Cilla's commercial and pragmatic approach to legal practice and client service. 

  Carrie Rogers, Real Estate, Sydney

Carrie has been a part of the Clayton Utz Real Estate team since 2005. Based in Sydney, Carrie acts for many high- profile private sector and government clients who all value her approach of working alongside them to deliver practical and commercial solutions. Carrie's practice spans property development and structuring, integrated anchor leasing arrangements, commercial and industrial leasing together with acquisitions, disposals and leasebacks. Carrie's appointment reinforces the market-leading position of the Clayton Utz national Real Estate practice. 

  Jonathan Slater, Commercial Litigation, Sydney

Jonathan joined the Clayton Utz Commercial Litigation practice in 2006. He has over 20 years' commercial litigation experience acting for large domestic and multi-national organisations. Jonathan's expertise, particularly in tax litigation, large-scale investigations and financial services litigation, and his client service approach, have established him as an outstanding commercial litigator among clients and in the wider market. Jonathan's appointment strengthens the firm's market-leading litigation practice in Sydney.

  Chris Slocombe, Major Projects & Construction, Brisbane

Chris joined the Clayton Utz Major Projects and Construction team in 2011.  Chris has over 12 years' domestic and international experience as a specialist front-end construction lawyer, acting for the full range of industry participants across a variety of industry sectors.  Clients value Chris' ability to cut through complexity, and effectively communicate simple, commercial solutions to difficult issues. Based in Brisbane, Chris' appointment to the partnership reflects the strength and continued success of the firm's leading national Major Projects and Construction Practice Group.