DMAW Lawyers appoints CEO, promotes senior lawyers
Commercial firm DMAW Lawyers has appointed its first non-lawyer executive to the role of chief executive officer.
The newly created role of CEO will be headed up by Bernice Witkowski, DMAW’s former executive general manager and its experienced people and culture leader.
In the role, Ms Witkowski will be working with the board of directors to deliver on the firm’s strategic plan off the back of its year-on-year revenue growth of more than 20 per cent across its service offerings.
One of DMAW’s founding principals’, Leo Walsh, said Ms Witkowski was the “ideal leader” for the firm.
“Bernice has renewed our focus on onboarding senior appointments, introduced professional development initiatives to develop our leaders and works with the board to deliver on our strategic plan in a way that brings everyone on the journey.
“Her appointment also sets the foundations for a planned and managed transition of the senior management of the business over the coming years,” Mr Walsh said.
Ms Witkowski said it is a “privilege to work with a forward-thinking board” and a business that provides career progression.
DMAW has also promoted Kylie Dunn to the position of special counsel and Jessica Punch to senior associate.
Ms Dunn joined the firm more than a decade ago as a clerk and has since specialised in workplace law.
Ms Punch, a contributor to DMAW’s disputes team, has had a focus on general commercial disputes since joining the firm four years ago.
“Kylie and Jess are wonderful success stories for DMAW Lawyers, having built careers here from the ground up as they continue to be recognised for their hard work and specialist expertise.
“We develop outstanding lawyers at DMAW Lawyers by creating an environment that celebrates ‘going beyond’ for our clients and encourages our people to thrive,” Ms Witkowski said.