The Law Society singled out the corporate and commercial firm for progressive initiatives and policies, such as part-time and job share arrangements for staff; flexible leave policies; transparent bonus schemes for professional staff; and community initiatives including work for the Life Stream Foundation and Foodbank.

Managing partner Bruce Humphrys said the award was in recognition of the firm’s continuing support of its staff. “Hopgood Ganim focuses on its people,” he said. “We live by the philosophy that happy employees make for a strong and successful workplace.”

Recent appointee, James Ireland, said that the firm’s flexible work practices were an influential factor in accepting the position of senior associate in the planning and environment team. “I wanted to work for Hopgood Ganim as it has one of the most well-regarded and effective planning and environment practices in Queensland,” Ireland said.

“As a father of two young children, making sure I have time to spend with my family is very important to me.”

The firm’s reasonable approach to billable hours was a further point of attraction for Ireland. “Hopgood Ganim has a realistic billable hour policy and a strong family focus,” he said. “Although many firms speak of their work-life balance initiatives the only real way that this can be achieved is through a realistic approach to billing hours,” Ireland said.