Ms Southgate joined the firm in 1999 after working at Lend Lease Primelife as a general counsel.

Based in the Melbourne office, Ms Southgate is also head of the Russell Kennedy Women’s Network, which seeks to connect women and promote their development as leaders in the profession.

Russell Kennedy also recently announced refurbishments to its Canberra office, which launched in February this year.

According to a statement from the firm, the Canberra office has “secured clients across the Commonwealth and territory governments and in other sectors of focus, including aged care and retirement living, not-for-profit and health”.

“We are very excited by the growth in our practice,” Russell Kennedy managing director Paul Gleeson said. “It reflects the feedback from clients that the Russell Kennedy approach is a very welcome change in Canberra.”