This focus will include, the firm noted in a statement, working with First Nations people, assisting victims and survivors of family and domestic violence and tackling environmental legal issues, particularly environmental disasters.

This appointment – marking HopgoodGanim’s first dedicated head of pro bono – is just one of many appointments the firm has made in recent times.

Since the new year began, the firm has made 24 other appointments, including six new additions to the firm’s legal operations and secretarial support teams, six new solicitors and 13 new graduates.

The new graduates are Emily Simi, Liam O’Shaughnessy, Estelle Sah, Brigid Geary, Shannon Ariens, Caitlin Seeto, Thomas Pozzi, Tom Mirolo-Lynam, Elaina Betzel, Peter Hiotis, Hannah Pellegrino, Claudia Hill and Ellie Neuendorf.

Phoebe Miller and Ciara Foley have been hired as senior associates, Evan Dixon as an associate, and Ryan Stimson and Josie Tait as solicitors.

Elsewhere, Bella Rose has been appointed as a legal secretary, Mitchel Brady and Raini Eve as junior legal assistants, Jessica Treacy as a business development manager, Brittany McDonald as an administration and project officer, and Georgia Bunz as a law clerk.

Reflecting on the hiring spree, HopgoodGanim managing partner Bruce Humphrys (pictured, right) said that “2022 will be a very interesting and positive year for HopgoodGanim Lawyers.”

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“This investment in our pro bono program via Leanne’s arrival at the firm is just one of many strategically important projects we have planned for this year and will further strengthen the work the firm has been delivering to support our community.”

Speaking to Lawyers Weekly, HopgoodGanim director of people and culture Janni Gibb said that the firm has “set an ambitious strategy centred on significant growth” business-wide, which will be underpinned by the bolstering of its teams.

“We have hit the ground running this year with 25 new starters since January including our new graduates, several new solicitors across our corporate and property teams and the firm’s first inhouse talent acquisition advisor. This role will be central to us supporting the number of roles we hope to place in the next year including a further increase on our graduate intake in 2023,” she explained.

“In the latter half of 2021, we further expanded our learning and development team with the addition of Kelly-Ann Sciffer as our learning and development manager. Kelly-Ann’s appointment supports our strong focus on developing our people with the introduction of our formal leadership development program and refreshed promotions and performance development processes.”

The firm’s people are “critical” to the viability and success of HopgoodGanim’s growth ambitions in the coming years, Ms Gibb noted, and as such, the firm is “investing appropriately to achieve this”.

Speaking about her appointment, Ms Collingburn said: “Pro bono legal services are such a valuable investment and community contribution. I am so pleased HopgoodGanim Lawyers has decided to take the next step forward with pro bono and so excited to join the firm as their first dedicated head of pro bono.

“We have a big few months ahead, setting the framework for the impact and outcomes we want to achieve through our pro bono work, but as a full sector national commercial law firm, and with full firm support, HopgoodGanim Lawyers are definitely ready to deliver an authentic and impactful pro bono program.”