The Brisbane office of national law firm Dibbs Abbott Stillman has made four new appointments to its construction, property and development legal services team. Mark Kenney joins as an associate specialising in building and development law. His particular expertise is in developing and drafting building agreements and he has a number of years in-house experience. Troy Lewis has also been appointed as an associate after working for a national boutique insurance law firm for the past three years. He also has extensive general commercial litigation experience, having advised and acted for corporate and private clients in a wide range of litigation matters. Fran Mangini and Rodney Sorensen have been appointed solicitors. Previously with a top-tier firm, Mangini has acted for corporate and private clients in a variety of matters, including commercial disputes, insurance and trade practices matters and insolvency and debt recovery. Sorencen has practised in commercial litigation across a range of matters with a leading firm in the US.

Sarah Haigh has been appointed as an associate at Barry & Nilsson Lawyers. She joined the firm in 2003 as a senior lawyer in the firm’s insurance section. Following her admission in NSW in 1997, Haigh worked for three years as a specialist professional indemnity/commercial litigation lawyer in Sydney. Her practice focuses on the area of public liability and property damage. Brooke Jacobs has also been appointed as an associate at the firm. Since joining the firm in 2002, Jacobs has concentrated her career in insurance law, specialising in public liability. She has extensive experience in the defence of personal injury claims and the provision of advice relating to indemnity, liability, quantum, reserves and general claims strategy.

Alexandra Fordyce was admitted as a solicitor on 7 November. Having graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from Bond University in 2003, Alex commenced her articles of clerkship at McInnes Wilson Lawyers — working in the firm’s insurance division. Fordyce then gained further experience with the firm’s special projects team before completing her final year of articles in the firm’s property, banking and finance team, where she now continues to practise as a solicitor.

Sparke Helmore has appointed Anne Dalton as a partner in its government practice in Melbourne. She was previously a partner at Blake Dawson Waldron. The firm said Dalton has extensive experience in major contracts, tendering, probity and governance, advising both private sector clients as well as federal and state governments.