The aim in moving to the new structure was to enhance the capability of the firm to provide uniformly high quality, seamless legal services and to strengthen its position as a leading provider of legal services in the Asia Pacific region.

Under the new national structure, management and strategic direction of the firm is the responsibility of Chief Executive Partner, Geoff Brown, who has been elected by the firm’s partners for a period of three years.

Mr. Brown has been a partner since 1974 and is one of Australia’s leading corporate lawyers. He has advised Federal and State Governments in some of Australia’s largest privatisation projects.

The firm is now structured nationally around four core business departments – Corporate, Financial Services, Property and Construction, and Litigation/Dispute Resolution. This represents a move away from the traditional geographical focus of law firms.

Each department is headed by a Managing Partner, who reports directly to Geoff Brown. The Departmental Managing Partners are:

As part of the move to a single national structure, Clayton Utz has appointed John Charters to the new position of Chief Operating Officer, which is the most senior administrative post within the firm.

A new Board of Directors of the firm has also been elected. John Shirbin is the Chair of the Board.

Clayton Utz is one of Australia’s leading top tier law firms, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Canberra and Darwin. Established in 1833, the firm has more than 179 partners, a further 671 lawyers and 827 support staff.