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DLA Piper promotes Aussies to international roles in firm first
DLA Piper has promoted Australian partners to international management roles for the first time, with their new responsibilities a “significant endorsement of Australia’s performance within the firm.”
Grace Ormsby
Melinda Upton and Jim Holding have been announced to the roles as part of the firm’s “international executive revamp,” and will take up the position on 1 May 2019.
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Ms Upton assumes a position as the first woman and Asia-Pacific-based partner to head an international practice group, and will take over the position held by Stéphane Lemarchand as the international head of the intellectual property and technology group.
According to a DLA Piper statement, she will “continue to play a leading role in developing client relationships and driving integration objectives locally.”
Mr Holding will aid in the development of a new ‘Change function’ at the firm, working with global co-CEO Simon Levine.
Both Ms Upton and Mr Holding will be based in Australia.
For the firm’s co-CEO Simon Levine, the Australian business has been performing well over the last two years and is well positioned for the future.
With change and innovation at “the heart of DLA Piper’s evolution,” Mr Levine is “delighted that Jim will be taking a pivotal role.”
He also noted IPT is one of the firm’s “most substantial practices, consisting globally of almost 150 partners” and expressed his confidence “that being led by Melinda, it is in good hands.”
Sydney-based international general counsel Amber Matthews will also take on a new role as DLA Piper’s Australian country managing partner.
Ms Matthews has been at the firm since 1999, first as a summer clerk when it was known as Philips Fox.
