Barry Nilsson poised for continued growth, says CEO

Walsh noted that this growth was primarily in the firm’s family law, wills and estates practice, which recorded a 14 per cent increase in headcount, as well as in its insurance and health law practice, which saw a 6 per cent rise.

Accompanying this growth, the firm also recorded a significant 13 per cent increase in revenue over the same period.

The national firm’s expansion follows several key developments, including the relocation of its Melbourne office in early April, a move described as necessary to “accommodate the growing practice”, and the promotion of 14 insurance lawyers at the start of the year.

Walsh attributed this growth to the firm’s clear strategic direction, aimed at bringing its “purpose to life”, a vision that has been actively implemented over the past two years as part of its 2023–2025 strategic plan.

“From the start, the board agreed on an ongoing emphasis on striving to be the best in our two core areas of business, insurance and health, and family law, and we’ve seen the benefits flow from this specialisation,” he said.

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“Having a clear focus has allowed us to invest heavily into our systems and expertise within the firm, to meet the growing needs of our clients, deepen our existing client relationships, and win new ones, too.”

Despite the firm’s recent successes, Walsh acknowledged the challenges that lie ahead for both Barry Nilsson and the broader legal industry in the pursuit of continued expansion.

He identified “the increasingly competitive market for both clients and talent” as the most significant obstacle on the horizon.

Looking ahead, Walsh also noted that staff retention and development will be key challenges for the national firm as it aims to sustain the momentum of last year’s growth.

“Employee retention and continuity is a big part of this. While attracting and retaining top-tier talent has long been a key priority area for the firm, we’re very focused on staff engagement and ensuring that we are developing our next generation of future leaders, as well as our current staff, to give them the skills to adapt within an evolving legal landscape,” he said.

“This is particularly important when we consider some of the emerging trends and issues our clients are facing, including AI and rising premiums – it’s key that we can be there to support our clients to manage these issues, whether that’s through educational events like our recent insurance perspective event or establishing our own policies and practices such as our dedicated AI working group.”

In terms of opportunities, Walsh highlighted substantial growth potential stemming from the firm’s established presence in the insurance and health sectors.

“From a firm perspective, Barry Nilsson’s truly national offering in the insurance and health market places us in a unique position to continue to grow, and with our 2026 diversity and inclusion strategy in full effect, we’re actively building on our commitment to a more inclusive and equitable workplace,” he said.

Barry Nilsson has also formed a partnership with a new major charity partner, Two Good Co, which supports women in crisis, particularly those experiencing domestic violence and homelessness.

Walsh emphasised that “pro bono work continues to play a central role in Barry Nilsson’s broader commitment to social impact”.

“Since signing up to the Australian Pro Bono Centre’s National Pro Bono Target in 2020, we’ve embedded pro bono work into the firm’s core values, enabling our people to make a tangible difference through our partnerships with community legal centres and not-for-profits,” he said.

“Last year, our head of pro bono and responsible business practice, Katie Swain, was recognised as Lawyers Weekly’s Pro Bono Partner of the Year – a proud moment that reflects the strength of our program and our ongoing focus on using our legal skills to support vulnerable members of the community.”

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