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National law firm Barry Nilsson has appointed a principal and her team to join the firm’s workers’ compensation and compulsory third-party practice in Perth.
Following five years at boutique law firm Jarman Legal, Laura Bendlin will join Barry Nilsson in the team as principal, alongside Ivan Mihaljevic (associate), Logan Vanderweide (graduate), and Serafina Butcher (legal assistant).
The appointments come after Barry Nilsson elevated 30 professionals in June, which marked the largest cohort of internal promotions in the firm’s history.
In what is a mass transfer from Jarman Legal, Mihaljevic joins the team as an associate, following a stint as a lawyer at the boutique law firm, with Vanderweide and Butcher also joining the team from Jarman, continuing in the roles of graduate lawyer and legal assistant, respectively.
With a focus exclusively on insurance litigation, the team at Barry Nilsson has experience in managing general liability, personal injury, workers’ compensation, and motor injury claims.
Speaking to the recent appointment of Bendlin, Barry Nilsson chairman and insurance and health principal Peter Murdoch highlighted the rapid expansion in the firm’s Perth office, implying that robust client demand was a key driver.
“The legal recruitment market in Perth is currently extremely competitive, and we’re pleased to have these experienced insurance specialists with deep local knowledge joining the firm,” Murdoch said.
With over a decade of expertise in insurance litigation, Bendlin has represented both insurers and the insured across various matters, including medical negligence, public liability, and workers’ compensation.
Meanwhile, for the past two and a half years, Mihaljevic has focused his practice on personal injury law, with a particular emphasis on workers’ compensation and motor injury cases.
Murdoch recognised that these appointments “demonstrated tangible action” to bring the firm’s values to life and were strongly aligned with the vision outlined in the strategic plan for 2026-28.
“The past 12 months have been a time of incredible growth for Barry Nilsson, and the addition of Laura Bendlin and her team reflects our ongoing commitment to attracting the best talent to service our clients and deliver the best results,” Murdoch said.
At the conclusion of last year, the firm’s Perth office welcomed two principals and their teams from DLA Piper, further strengthening the expanding talent pool across core practice areas.
Following the most recent additions, Barry Nilsson’s national headcount has grown to more than 580 employees, bringing the total number of principals to 47.
