Peter Slattery, one of the founders and managing partner of JWS, said the appointments were a mix of internal and external, and that they “really reflect a combination of organic growth for the firm in our primary practice areas, and also growth through acquisition of individual lawyers”.

The firm’s new partners for 2006 include Chris Connor, Christine Ecob, Rohan Madders, Jim Hunwick and Michele Laidlaw. Two special counsels, Robert Wyld and Ivor Kaplan were appointed, along with tax counsel Jane Trethewey.

In July 2006, six senior associates were also appointed: Alex Badham, Man Loi, Andy Milidoni, Dougal Ross, Renai Vercoe and Joycia Young.

Ecob and Young were both laterally appointed with the specific aim of growing the firm’s competition and intellectual property divisions. “We wanted, in particular, to strengthen our capability in the IP area,” Slattery said.

According to the managing partner, expansion in the firm’s Sydney and Melbourne offices was the main reason for the appointments.