Payne was previously head of practice group marketing at Blake Dawson, with a particular focus on the development of the firm's corporate, banking & finance, insolvency and international practices.

The firm’s managing partner, Michael Joseph, said the appointment aligns with the firm's recent strategic review and that Payne will deliver programs to support the delivery of client service, relationships and communication, and build the firm's reputation.

Payne, who is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and also serves on the NSW Committee for the Asia-Pacific Professional Services Marketing Association, said that while Kemp Strang's lawyers receive positive feedback from clients about their service and about the firm's “proprietary Vision technology”, the Kemp Strang brand is “not as well-known as it should be in the broader marketplace”.

“I am working with the partners and their teams to change this,” said Payne.