Meet Molly, a lawyer in our Dispute Resolution and Litigation team in Melbourne. We asked her to tell us more about her practice, see what she said below.
What areas do you specialise in?
I work on a broad range of matters, including regulatory investigations, royal commissions, trusts and estates disputes, shareholder disputes, class actions and contractual disputes. Since joining ABL, I’ve developed a keen interest in trust and estate disputes. ABL’s expertise in this area is unrivalled, so we are often challenged with complex private structure cases that seem intractable at first instance.
Tell us about some standout matters you've been involved in.
I’m extremely proud to have worked with Giant Steps, a school which supports children and families affected by autism, and one of ABL’s many pro bono clients. We offered support in relation to the expansion of the school, a renovation which involved highly complex planning law aspects and negotiations with various stakeholders.
Another matter that demonstrates the complex, engaging and newsworthy work that ABL’s Dispute Resolution and Litigation team does, has been representing Milklab manufacturer, Noumi Limited, in a long-running class action commenced by Deloitte in the Supreme Court which has recently reached an agreement to settle.
What drew you to ABL?
I joined ABL as a law graduate in 2020 as I knew it would provide me with the best opportunity to gain hands-on experience and intimate exposure to complex legal work.
At ABL, every team member, regardless of level, plays an integral role. From early on in my career, I felt I was really able to contribute. I am not just observing – I am actively involved in the strategy and management of matters. From day one, my contributions have been valued by the partners in the team, who have encouraged a collaborative culture of sharing ideas on strategy and legal issues. This environment has allowed me to develop the confidence and skills that I needed to progress in my career and enjoy the work I do.
Can you tell us about the ABL Pride initiative?
I am one of the Chairs of the ABL Pride Committee, an initiative I am deeply proud of. ABL encourages everyone to bring their whole selves to work and ABL Pride is dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for all members of the LGBTIQA+ community and their allies. Since I’ve been at ABL, I’ve been involved in organising a range of initiatives, including LGBTIQA+ training and education and a range of fantastic events.
The event I’m most proud of was an inter-firm mixer held on the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). The event was thoughtfully curated by the team to provide entertainment which represented the voices of the trans community and reflected the seriousness of the day and its message. It featured a speech on behalf of the Trans and Gender Diverse Film festival which highlighted the important advocacy work they do, and a cabaret performance by Mama Alto’s which included reflections by her on transphobia, the meaning of IDAHOBIT and importance of celebrating it.
