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NRF names first female Australian managing partner

Global firm Norton Rose Fulbright has appointed its first-ever female managing partner in Australia, who will take over from incumbent Wayne Spanner next year.

user iconJerome Doraisamy 13 December 2019 Big Law
Alison Deitz
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Alison Deitz has been named as the firm’s new Australian managing partner, effective 1 July 2020. She will also sit on the firm’s global executive committee.

She will succeed Mr Spanner, who has served as the firm’s head in Australia since 2012.

Ms Deitz has been a partner with the firm since 1998 and leads Australia’s business law practice group, which encompasses the banking and finance, corporate M&A, real estate, financial restructuring and insolvency, financial services, tax and technology teams.

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“A handover period will now occur with outgoing managing partner Wayne Spanner, as part of a planned transition of the leadership of the Australian business,” the firm said in a statement.

NRF global chief executive Peter Martyr said that Ms Deitz is committed to serving the firm’s clients and developing its people.

“This makes her an excellent fit to lead our growth and success in Australia, building on Wayne’s many accomplishments as Australia’s managing partner,” he said.

Speaking about her appointment, Ms Deitz said she was “honoured” to be appointed as the firm’s newest Australian managing partner.

“I am excited about leading our firm into its next phase of development as we strengthen and expand the services we provide to our valued clients. I am passionate about creating opportunities for our people to work with these clients and to solve their most challenging and complex business problems,” she said.

“We have so much talent here in Australia and throughout our global firm. I am determined to nurture this and deploy it in an agile way for our clients’ benefit.

“On behalf of our Australian partners and staff I want to thank Wayne for the huge contribution he has made to the firm as managing partner in Australia. Under his transformational leadership, the firm has developed its reputation as a leading international player, developed high-quality practice areas and undertaken a major law firm merger that has created a powerful platform for future success.”

Over the course of his three terms as managing partner in Australia, Mr Spanner has been “instrumental in transforming the firm’s capability, footprint and reputation”, NRF noted.

It has been a “privilege to serve” as Australia’s managing partner, he said.

“Together, we have experienced significant transformation and growth, including the continued expansion of our global platform, implementation of our 2020 strategy, enhancement of practice areas and client service, and ongoing attraction of top talent at all levels,” Mr Spanner reflected.

“I look forward to working with Alison as she prepares to take over the managing partner role.”

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