Axup is currently a special counsel at Allens and chief representative in the firm's Beijing office. She is a specialist in the energy, water and regulatory sector and is a Chinese speaker.

She joined Allens as an articled clerk in 1995 and, over the past 17 years, has worked in the firm's Melbourne, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices.

During her time at the firm, Axup has worked on a wide range of significant and complex matters for international clients in various sectors, including principally the energy and resources sectors. Recent roles include advising on the project development and financing of wind farms and power stations, power and commodity supply arrangements, aluminium smelter negotiations, Rio Tinto's Oyu Tolgoi copper project in Mongolia, and outbound investment and M&A into the Asia-Pacific region.

Her excellent leadership skills have also led to her recently being named the winner of a Chief Executive Women scholarship, which aims to support outstanding female leaders to achieve their goals.

As a scholarship recipient, Axup will attend the Singapore campus of leading international business school INSEAD in December for executive training as part of the Leading for Results program. Allens chairman Ewen Crouch said Axup would play an integral role in the firm's north Asian practice, with a particular focus on the energy, resources and infrastructure joint venture with Linklaters and opportunities in Mongolia.

“As momentum builds in our joint ventures across Asia with Linklaters, we see Kate as playing a very important role in maximising the opportunities those joint ventures will present,” he said.

Axup said she was proud to be appointed a partner of Allens.

“I look forward to continuing to support our clients who are active in the north Asia region and to working with the Linklaters China team as part of our Asian joint venture,” she said.

The appointment became effective on 1 November.