This news comes after an update in February on AFL’s acquisitions of Watts McCray and Kordos Lawyers and the opening of AFL’s 20th national office in Brisbane’s Bayside last December, as well as its expansion into the Gold Coast (its 19th office) in August 2022, expansion into Wollongong in NSW last June (its 18th office), and acquisition of a Darwin-based practice in late 2021, a move that resulted in the listed firm having a presence in seven Australian jurisdictions.

The promotions include one head of family law, one principal lawyer and practice leader, one senior associate, four associates, one law graduate and one legal operations manager across the country, something AF Legal Group CEO Chris McFadden said are well deserved.

“Our team has put considerable effort into ensuring that AF Legal Group remains one of Australia’s top legal firms, and we want to thank them for their contribution,” he said.

“Due primarily to our high-quality team, AFL’s reputation for quality and service continues to grow as we make considerable inroads in establishing the organisation as one of Australia’s premier personal legal firms.”

Further, the firm has significantly invested in creating clear pathways to promotion and is firmly committed to helping them thrive in their roles – and Mr McFadden added that the firm’s performance in the 2023 financial year was due to high-quality performance and dedication.

“Exciting changes are coming as we continue to shift towards a people-first culture where each and every team member is at the centre of everything we do,” he added.

“The individuals that have been promoted are just the latest in a long line of team members who have been celebrated for their excellence and ability to always deliver for our clients. I wish to extend our congratulations to them and wish them all the best in their new roles.”

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Richard Crane is the new head of law at Australian Family Lawyers WA, and Adrian Curtis is the newest principal lawyer and practice leader in Canberra, with associate Aaron Wallis and law graduate Rebecca Staite also promoted in Canberra.

In addition, Joseph Cavanagh has been promoted to associate at AFL Withnalls in Darwin, Ally Gilmour has been promoted to senior associate in the Australian Family Lawyers Gold Coast office, and Andrew Andrianakis and James Caraglanis have been promoted to associate at AFL Kordos.

Also, within the AF Legal Group, Lina Nahas has been promoted to legal operations manager.

The news followed recent promotions rounds in the profession, including: ABLA promoting seven on 13 July; DLA Piper promoting 10 in Australia on 11 July; HWL Ebsworth elevating 72 lawyers, including seven to partner, as reported on Friday (7 July); Norton Rose Fulbright promoting 28, as reported on the same date; Gilchrist Connell promoting 12 and hiring another seven senior lawyers, reported by Lawyers Weekly on Thursday (6 July); Clayton Utz promoting 64 on Tuesday (4 July); Dentons promoting 14, including four to partner, on Monday (3 July); Carroll & O’Dea elevating 17, also on Monday (3 July); MinterEllison promoting 91 on Friday (30 June); three Australians making partner at Baker McKenzie on Friday (30 June); Colin Biggers & Paisley promoting 13 on Friday (30 June); Clyde & Co naming 13 new senior associates, as reported on Monday (3 July); Meridian elevating 12 lawyers, also reported on Monday (3 July); Allens promoting 70 on Thursday (29 June); the elevation of eight, including four to partner, at PCL Lawyers, also on Thursday (29 June); IPH promoting 25, including seven to principal, also on Thursday (29 June); Russell Kennedy’s promotion of 18 on Wednesday (28 June); Slater & Gordon promoting 46; Holman Webb elevating eight and nabbing three new partners from BigLaw rivals, also on Wednesday (28 June); Herbert Smith Freehills’ elevation of 46 to senior associate on Tuesday (27 June); the promotion of 12, including three to partner, at Arnold Bloch Leibler, on Tuesday (27 June); Holding Redlich’s promotion of 41 lawyers to more senior roles, also on Tuesday 27 June; Hamilton Locke’s elevation of 14 across its firm and one in its allied business, on Tuesday (27 June); HopgoodGanim’s promotion of 25, including four to partner on Monday (26 June); Hicksons’ promotion of 10, also on Monday (26 June); McCabes’ elevation of 13 to more senior roles, also on Monday (26 June); King & Wood Mallesons’ promotion of 77 lawyers, including 44 to senior associate, on Friday (23 June); Wotton + Kearney elevated 34, including four to partner, also on Friday (23 June); Barry Nilsson promoting 21 on Thursday (22 June); Hall & Wilcox promoting 48, including five to partner, on Wednesday (21 June); McCullough Robertson elevated 17 lawyers, including two to partner, on Tuesday (20 June); 55 being promoted as part of Mills Oakley’s EOFY promotions round on Monday (19 June); the promotion of 23 at Thomson Geer on the same day; the elevation of 26 to more senior roles at Piper Alderman, also on 19 June; six new partners in Australia at King & Wood Mallesons announced on 16 June; the promotion of seven to partner at Gadens on 15 June; the elevation of 18 at the start of June at Johnson Winter Slattery, followed by its promotion of five to partner in late June; 35 senior promotions at Lander & Rogers in early June; four senior hires for MinterEllison’s consulting arm earlier this month; seven to partner at Moray & Agnew in late May; three new partners at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, also in late May; seven named as special counsel at Clyde & Co in early May; two new partners at DLA Piper as announced in late April; three new partners at Allen & Overy from April; seven to counsel roles at Herbert Smith Freehills in the same week and 10 to partner in Australia a week earlier; and the elevation of 13 to the partnership at Ashurst in mid-April.