Sydney-based boutique Massons has promoted its first-ever new partner since its inception, bringing the firm’s partnership to three people.
After celebrating nine years in business, commercial property firm Massons has appointed a new partner to join founders Leisha de Aboitiz and Jodie Masson in the partnership.
New partner Alex Ho joined the firm as a paralegal in 2017 and has wide experience across all areas of commercial property law.
“I started my career at Massons as a part-time paralegal when the firm had just started. There are no barriers here to doing well,” he said.
“I’ve had the most comprehensive, one-on-one training possible from all of the very senior people who have a wealth of experience at Massons (not just Jodie and Leisha), and I’ve cut my teeth on some really significant deals. My clients have been really generous and supportive.”
Massons started with six people in 2016, and it has more than tripled in size since then.
“It’s so rewarding to reflect on the firm’s journey as it moves into its 10th year with more than 20 staff, particularly when many start-ups struggle to get past their first year,” de Aboitiz said.
“We continue to work with incredible clients on complex and significant transactions, many of which we simply wouldn’t have had access to prior to starting Massons. Frankly, Alex is an exceptional candidate for this position – he embodies the excellence and attitude that we all strive to promote as the Massons brand.”
Ho credited senior lawyers at the firm for guiding him in his career to date.
“I think that one of the key benefits of being promoted in this law firm, as opposed to others that I’ve seen, is that I’ve had the benefit of watching role models who are genuinely supportive. There’s a real sense of shared purpose – no ‘owning’ clients or work here – just a collective focus on doing great work for our clients,” he said.
“Collaboration isn’t just something we talk about; it’s embedded in how we operate every day. Whilst I didn’t expect to be promoted this soon, I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be. I’m ready to bring some more enthusiasm and energy into growing the firm and building on our award-winning reputation.”
Masson added that Ho was an “extraordinary candidate” for the firm’s first new partner.
“We have an internally published set of criteria for all of our legal roles, and whilst, of course, leadership positions require demonstrated experience and skill, an extraordinary candidate like Alex can satisfy both financial and qualitative measures in record time,” she said.
“I’ve had colleagues at other firms held back over the years because whilst they ‘ticked all the boxes’, they didn’t satisfy some other discretionary or traditional measure that clients would find completely unimportant. We don’t do that here.”
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.