Former Thomson Playford partner, John Homburg, has joined specialist insurance firm Fountain + Bönig. He is the Australian Insurance Law Association’s (AILA) chairman in South Australia and will join John Fountain, a member of AILA’s national board, at the firm.

Bartier Perry has promoted Peter Cahill and Denise Wright to senior associate and James Mattson to associate.

MacDonnells Solicitors has appointed a new partner and two senior associates. Michael Farrell was appointed partner in the firm’s planning and environment team. He has extensive experience in all aspects of town planning, environment and land development law, statutory approvals processes and local government administrative issues. Luckbir Singh has been appointed a senior associate in MacDonnells’ commercial and property teams. Melinda Foley has been appointed a senior associate in the firm’s litigation team.

McInnes Wilson Lawyers has appointed two new partners — David Jesser and David Jasinski — to the firm’s insurance litigation team. Jesser’s experience includes eight years of defending compulsory third party insurance, occupiers’ liability, construction and public risk claims for insurance clients. Jasinski’s main areas of practice include public risk, workers’ compensation, insurance litigation and compulsory third party insurance. The firm also appointed four new associates.

Macrossans Lawyers has appointed Rachel Drew as a partner in its employment team. She joined Macrossans as an articled clerk and now specialises in the areas of management and response to issues relating to workers’ health, dismissal and discipline of employees, anti-discrimination and equal opportunity.

The Minter Ellison Legal Group has appointed 10 new partners — nine are in Australia and one in Hong Kong. The new partners are: Margaret Brown (intellectual property and competition law —Brisbane), Scott Budd (construction, engineering and infrastructure —Brisbane), Gerry Cawson (corporate and commercial — Adelaide), Emma Drew (corporatae and commercial — Darwin), Trent Forno (human resources and industrial relations — Brisbane), James Hutton (corporate and securities — Melbourne), Wan Li (China practice — Hong Kong), John Mosley (finance —Sydney), Karen Payne (tax — Sydney), Jane Schammer (insurance and corporate risk —Adelaide). The firm also appointed 11 new special counsel and promoted 31 lawyers to senior associate.

Sparke Helmore has appointed Susan Bennett (commercial dispute resolution), Ben Burney (banking and finance), Derek Charge (resources and mining) and Michael Dwyer (compensation) as partners. Greg Guest (compensation) and Alison Ryder (dust disease) have been appointed as special counsel. The firm has also appointed nine senior associates.