Australand has appointed Linda Abernethy to the role of senior commercial lawyer. Formerly a senior corporate lawyer with Sydney Airport Corporation and senior associate with Minter Ellison, Linda joins the Australand legal team with more than 10 years legal experience.

Anna Fenton recently joined Phillips Fox as a partner in the commercial property team. She is based in Wellington and was previously at NZ firm Buddle Findlay. Fenton specialises in commercial development and leasing, rural property and forestry.

Commercial law firm Jackson McDonald has appointed Naomi Johnston as an associate in the firm’s commercial litigation team. Johnston practises in the areas of general commercial and corporate litigation.

Gadens Lawyers Perth has appointed five new lawyers and lost one partner. David Skender has joined as a senior associate practising in banking and finance litigation/insolvency. Paul Lander has been hired as a senior associate in the commercial services/property area. Raija Sell, practising in the commercial litigation/insolvency area, has been appointed as a solicitor. Anton Conti has been appointed as senior associate in the property services area and Amy Yem has been employed as a solicitor practising in the property/commercial services area. Nicholas David Pope has resigned as a partner to pursue other interests.

Hunt & HuntLawyers has appointed 10 new partners, eight from outside the firm, and six from PwC Legal. Michael Bowyer, Chris Brierley, Julian McGrath, Bruce McLean, Philip Purcell and Andrew Spearritt all came from PwC Legal, and specialise in insurance law. Peter Faludi, formerly at Ernst &Young Law, practises in banking and finance law, property development and tax sharing agreements. David Morris, came from Phillips Fox and will practise in employment, OH&S and industrial relations law. From inside the firm, Charles Bavin has become a partner in commercial litigation, dispute resolution, insolvency and securities law and Rod Casimir in insurance law.