As the national law firm celebrates 140 years since first opening its doors in Melbourne, David Newman has outlined the firm’s focus for the future as it navigates ongoing changes and challenges within the legal profession.
Maddocks marked a significant milestone this month, celebrating 140 years since first opening its doors in Melbourne in 1885.
From its beginnings as a small practice advising local government clients, the firm has grown into a national law firm with more than 700 staff and over 95 partners, operating across Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.
While the anniversary offers a moment to reflect on its history, Maddocks’ CEO, David Newman, shared that the firm’s future will be shaped by how it adapts to rapid changes in the legal profession.
“The legal profession and the way lawyers work has also changed and is unrecognisable from the way Joe Maddock serviced his clients in the late 19th century,” Newman said.
“We have seen the profession move from handwritten correspondence to typewriters to fax machines to desktop computers to laptops and now AI.”
Newman highlighted that the evolution of technology and its integration into legal practice has forced law firms to rethink their approaches, describing it as one of the biggest challenges Maddocks will face in its history.
“The current technology changes shaping the way we work and the communities in which we live, and the pace of that change, may be one of the greatest challenges the firm has faced in its history,” Newman said.
However, the CEO emphasised that “with that challenge comes opportunity, and we are excited to embrace the future”.
While navigating technological change remains a key focus, Newman stressed that innovation is only part of the picture.
“We aim to be strategic legal partners in the sectors we know best. That means offering smarter services, building deep expertise, and helping clients identify and navigate legal, regulatory, and commercial opportunities early,” Newman said.
Newman pointed out that in the coming years, certain areas of law are set to become increasingly central to Maddocks’ work, with the firm aiming to expand its focus on “sustainability, technology, and infrastructure”.
To achieve these goals, Newman shared how Maddocks plans to continue investing in its people, providing them with the tools and training needed to deliver exceptional service in a fast-moving, ever-changing environment.
“We are investing in our people. From embracing AI to design thinking training to platforms like Maddocks Digital and eContracts, we’re giving our teams the tools to deliver exceptional service in a fast-moving and ever-changing environment,” Newman said.
“At the heart of it all is a mindset of constant improvement. We’re not just reacting to change – we aim to shape it. Whether it’s how we work with clients or how we support each other, we’re always looking for ways to do it better.”
