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Bakers head becomes 1st female president of pre-eminent industry body
The head of Baker McKenzie’s restructuring and insolvency practice has become the first female president of a pre-eminent industry body concerned with promoting the benefits of turnaround.
Emma Musgrave
Baker McKenzie’s Maria O'Brien has taken on the additional role as president of the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), Australia chapter.
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The TMA, which was established in 1988, holds almost 10,000 members in 54 chapters across the globe.
Ms O'Brien’s new status sees her become the first female president of the TMA. She brings an impressive résumé to the position, having built up an extensive practice in restructuring and insolvency matters.
Throughout her career, Ms O'Brien has gained considerable experience acting for distressed or insolvent companies, their external administrators and creditors on a wide range of insolvency issues, including informal workouts, with a particular focus on cross-border restructuring and insolvency. She also has extensive experience in facilitating the court approval of members’ and creditors’ schemes of arrangement under the Corporations Act.
As per a statement provided, Ms O'Brien’s new role as president of the TMA recognises her work as a “long standing” and “respected insolvency and restructuring practitioner”.
“I am proud of what TMA has achieved in promoting turnaround and restructuring in Australia including by law reform, particularly through a period of immense upheaval caused by COVID-19,” Ms O'Brien said on her appointment.
“I thank my predecessor Carl Gunther for his excellent stewardship of the TMA during COVID, and commend him for bringing an organisation well known for the very active participation of women to 40 per cent female board representation.”
Going forward, Ms O'Brien said she hopes to engage both new and current members of the TMA through fresh initiatives across the Australian market.
“I am excited to return to a ‘post-COVID normal’, and the resumption of the TMA’s outstanding in person annual conference and state events,” she said.
“I am committed to the reinvigoration of the TMA’s education offering including to help engage new members and sponsors in turnaround.
“I also look forward to continuing to work with our fabulous board, our hard working state committees and general manager Allison Robinson, as well as with our valued sponsors and partners, to promote the benefits of turnaround in Australia.”
