Freehills consultant Kathleen Farrell will take up theprestigious post on 1 September this year.

Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation, andCorporate Law, Chris Bowen, announced the appointment this week.

The Takeovers Panel is the primary forum for resolvingtakeover disputes in Australia and Kathleen's appoint follows the presidency ofMacquarie Bank's Simon McKeon.

 “As one ofFreehills earliest female partners, she has also been a ground breaking leader.I’m very pleased that in addition to her substantial involvement as a legal andbusiness leader outside the firm, she has and will continue to work withFreehills,” said Freehills CEO Gavin Bell.   

Farrell was appointed as a partner at Freehills in 1984 and hasworked as a consultant at the firm since 2000.

The immediate past chair of the Business Law Section of theLaw Council of Australia, the Takeover Panel’s new recruit has represented theLaw Council on the ASX Corporate Governance Council.

Freehills partner Rodd Levy is also a member of theTakeovers Panel.