ARNOLD Bloch Leibler has announced its mid-year promotions, which include one new partner and eight new senior associates.

John Mengolian, a commercial litigation lawyer with expertise in property development and property litigation, will become a partner of the firm from 1 July, while Reagan Thackwray, Teresa Ward, Jason Blankfield, Kate O'Brien, Christine Fleer, Shaun Cartoon, Nancy Collins and David Shafer will become senior associates.

Mengolian has acted for commercial and residential property developer clients, builders and landowners. He was admitted to practice in Victoria in 2002, joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in 2005 and was appointed a senior associate in 2007.

Thackwray, a newly appointed senior associate, is a member of the firm’s property and development group. His practice focuses on the acquisition, disposal, leasing and funding of properties and portfolios, advising a wide range of private, corporate and institutional clients. He moved over from Linklaters this year.

Ward, who practises in commercial litigation with a particular focus on large commercial and competition law disputes for public and private companies, previously worked at Allens Arthur Robinson.

Prior to that, Ward worked for Nokia in the UK as its Intellectual Property Rights Litigation Counsel (global), dealing with large commercial, patent and competition disputes.

Blankfield practises in general commercial litigation and dispute resolution, focusing on property-related litigation, building and construction disputes and insolvency. He joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in 2007.

O'Brien is a member of the litigation and dispute resolution group and acts in contract disputes, property-related disputes, general commercial litigation and construction litigation. Kate joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in 2005 as an articled clerk.

Fleer, meanwhile, is a member of the firm’s commercial practice and principally advises private clients, including companies, individuals and professional services firms. She joined Arnold Bloch Leibler as an articled clerk in 2005.

Cartoon is a member of Arnold Bloch Leibler’s taxation department and his practice focuses on income tax, GST, tax litigation and audits. He joined the firm as an articled clerk in 2006.

Collins practises in the litigation team, and focuses on wills and trusts disputes, as well as a broad range of experience in general commercial litigation. She joined the firm in 2006 as an articled clerk.

Shafer practises in the firm’s commercial and corporate and public companies groups, acting for a range of public and private clients. He joined Arnold Bloch Leibler as an articled clerk.