Throughout 2024, Chamberlains Law Firm has been recognised by Australasian Lawyer through a variety of accolades reflecting the firm’s strong sense of culture, leadership, and endearing client support. For Chamberlains, innovation is key, and these awards reflect exactly that.
From Chamberlains’ ability to expand and deepen client services, foster a close-knit workplace culture, and support those in need as a growing industry leader, Chamberlains proves time and time again why the slogan, ‘We’re With You’, means so much.
5-Star Employers of Choice – The Best Law Firms to Work for in Australia
Australasian Lawyer began accepting nominations for the ninth 5-Star Employers of Choice list in April 2024, which recognises law firms that have excelled in supporting their staff through employee-focused programs over the past year. Chamberlains was among the 30 firms recognised for this prestigious award.
What Makes a Positive Employee Experience?
Australasian Lawyer deduced several key factors that contributed to positive experiences for employees. This included:
- Remuneration
- Training and professional development
- Career progression
- Diversity and inclusion
- Access to technology and resources
- Communication
- Leadership
- Work-life balance
- Health and wellbeing
- Reward and recognition, and
- Recruitment
Communication is Key
Chamberlains set in place a variety of initiatives to bolster the employee experience on all fronts. Their initiatives are communicated transparently to employees through formal policies and review processes. The firm has experienced success through improved employee satisfaction and retention, attraction of talent and compliance through the active promotion of pay parity and transparency and incentivising compliance with financial and cultural KPI’s.
Setting the Foundation for Future Leaders
Initiatives like the Future Leaders Program, Train the Trainers Program, and the Early Career Professional Program, focused on developing employees’ leadership and professional skills, ultimately setting the foundation for a future of strong and knowledgeable legal leaders at Chamberlains.
Supporting Each Other
On the other hand, the Mental Health First Aid Training and the Employee Assistance Program gives employees the opportunity to explore themes of mental and emotional health, and how to best support one another, be it a client or team member. Chamberlains has experienced success with high employee engagement with these programs and positive employee feedback regarding building workplace confidence, support with career goals and access to transparent guidance.
Being Flexible and Providing the Right Resources
Chamberlains also provides easy access to technology and resources to all staff to support flexible work arrangements. Access and equipment are readily available for both in office and remote work, ensuring a supportive flexible work environment. This accompanied with a large stack of tech programs has allowed employees the ability to work across teams nationally and with flexible work arrangements.
Chamberlains Law Firm’s commitment to these key factors earned them a spot on the 5-Star Employers of Choice list.
Fast Firms – The Fastest-Growing Law Firms in Australia
On 20 May, Australasian Lawyer opened nominations for the 2024 Fast Firms report, with the aim to recognise Australian law firms who have experienced exponential growth. Chamberlains Law Firm was among the 21 firms that made the final list.
How Did Chamberlains Become One of the Fastest Growing Law Firms in Australia?
Australasian Lawyer reviewed the nominations to identify firms that demonstrated exceptional growth in revenue, partnership and general headcount, expansion, and other significant milestones highlighting growth. Chamberlains Law Firm’s impressive growth in these areas earned them a spot on the prestigious Fast Firms list, showcasing their resilience and solidifying their strong position in the Australian legal market.
Expanding the Newcastle Office
Chamberlains’ growth is greatly contributed to the acquisition of an established Newcastle Law Firm, Dimarco Garland Lawyers, which expanded the breadth of legal support to the Newcastle and Hunter Region. This expansion saw the introduction of the firm’s official Director of the Newcastle office, Marissa Dimarco.
First Female Director in Newcastle
Marissa Dimarco brought a wealth of knowledge to grow Chamberlains’ full service offering and focused her attention to broadening the scope of work in Property Law, Conveyancing, Corporate & Commercial Law, Private Wealth, and Workplace Law. The expansion of the Newcastle office effectively strengthened Chamberlains’ commitment to the Hunter Region and brought on a team of highly knowledgeable and experienced individuals to further define Chamberlains’ presence in Newcastle.
Introducing a New Team in Brisbane
More recently, Chamberlains has expanded into Queensland for the first time with the introduction of a new team situated in Brisbane. Effective January 1, 2025, Handz Law and Chamberlains Law Firm have officially merged, introducing a revitalised approach to community support with expertise in Property, Conveyancing, Litigation, Corporate & Commercial Law. This strategic move marks a significant milestone in the firm’s growth and commitment to providing exceptional legal services across the region, with a new focus on the Brisbane community.
Strong Team, Stronger Presence
The new Brisbane office houses a team of highly skilled legal professionals dedicated to delivering high quality legal services through innovation and straightforward advice. Directors Calvin Young and Sieng Kong bring a unified approach emphasising team cohesion, alongside Special Counsel Domenic Gallo and Conveyancer and Paralegal Candice Wang. Their presence opens doors for Brisbane clients to engage advice on property acquisitions, commercial transactions, corporate advisory, joint ventures, corporate litigation, and much more.
Growing the Service: Strategic Advisory & Abuse Compensation
Outside of acquisitions, Chamberlains has continued to enhance the scope of its practice areas in new ways. The Insolvency & Restructuring Team at Chamberlains has increased service lines with a focus on Strategic Advisory work. In addition, the Injury & Compensation Team has experienced rapid growth with significant work in the institutional abuse litigation area which provides support to victims of historic sexual abuse.
Law Firms of the Year AU / NZ – The Best Law Firms in Australia and New Zealand
Between June 24 to July 19, Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer invited nominations for 2024 Law Firms of the Year. Chamberlains Law Firm was among the 30 firms recognised for this prestigious award.
Becoming the Best of the Best
Firms were evaluated based on their performance over the past 18 months. This period highlighted how they successfully navigated various pressures while maintaining an excellent client service.
Nominations were reviewed based on improvements in areas such as:
- Recruitment
- Diversity
- Employee retention
- Acquisitions
- New offices
- New alliances
- Client growth
- Financial performance, and
- Unique value propositions
Feats & Foundations
Reflected in their ability to secure a spot on the 5-Star Employers of Choice and Fast Firms lists, Chamberlains Law Firm’s achievements in these areas earned them a spot on the list of top law firms in Australia and New Zealand for 2024.
Growing the Team and Inspiring Leadership
Achievements that stand out to Chamberlains that have earned them a spot on this list are the expansion of their Newcastle office with the acquisition of Dimarco & Garland Lawyers, opening of a Brisbane office and merger with Handz Law, expansion of various practice areas namely Insolvency & Restructuring and Injury & Compensation, and the many initiatives designed to boost employee engagement, satisfaction, and knowledge of leadership and team work.
Most Influential Lawyers – The Most Influential Lawyers in Australia
Ashleigh Blewitt, Director at Chamberlains Law Firm
On 18 March 2024, Australasian Lawyer opened nominations for its fourth annual Most Influential Lawyers list. Among the standout honourees was Ashleigh Blewitt, Private Wealth Director at Chamberlains Law Firm, recognised for her exceptional leadership and positive impact on her firm, clients, and team.
How are Nominees Evaluated?
The evaluation of nominees was based on categories including Business, Changemakers, Government/non-profits/associations, Human rights, Advocacy and Criminal Law, and Young Influencers. In addition, nominees had to highlight their accomplishments and communicate their impact to the legal profession.
Leading with Strength & Vision
Ashleigh Blewitt’s nomination highlighted her ability to lead her team with strength and vision, driving significant positive change within Chamberlains Law Firm. Her dedication to her clients and her innovative approach to Private Wealth Management has set her apart as a leader in her field. Her contributions have not only enhanced the firm’s reputation but also fostered a supportive and dynamic environment for her colleagues.
Joining forces with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Ashleigh has extended the partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide pro bono succession planning to those wishing to leave a portion of their estate to the charity. This assists in supporting a fantastic organisation that engages in multi-faceted humanitarian aid throughout over 190 countries.
Partnerships, Pro Bono & Preventing Elder Abuse
Ashleigh also arranged partnerships with local not-for-profit senior citizen groups and Relationships Australia to do pro bono and heavily discounted work in preventing elder abuse, pre-empting and preventing estate litigation and helping senior citizens to maintain their rights so that they feel safe and are comfortable with their financial autonomy.
By providing pro bono legal services, Ashleigh has equipped hundreds of clients across Canberra and Sydney to date with the means to make informed and secure decisions, and the legal frameworks to support their decisions moving forward.
Casting a Light on Mental Health: Office Culture & Supporting Each Other
Ashleigh has also pioneered the Chamberlains mental health first aid, which has been eagerly taken up by staff. This has been an important step towards a healthy office culture, and a step away from the traditional legal environment of extreme stress that exists in many workplaces. As a strong advocate for mental health maintenance, Ashleigh has been the perfect leader in this space.
Ashleigh Blewitt’s inclusion in the final list of 47 influential lawyers underscores her remarkable achievements and her commitment to excellence in the legal profession.
The Best Young Lawyers in Australia Under 35
In November 2024, Australasian Lawyer opened nominations for the 2024 Rising Stars list, inviting distinguished young professionals from the Australian legal field to participate. Among the honourees were Managing Director, Stipe Vuleta, and Director, Ashleigh Blewitt from Chamberlains Law Firm, recognised for their ability to lead and support their clients and team.
What Makes a Nominee Eligible?
Eligible nominees had to be 35 or younger as of 31 March 2024, committed to a career in the legal space. The Australasian Lawyer evaluated nominees based on their responsibilities, designation, and standout accomplishments over the past 12 months. Recommendations from managers and senior experts were also accounted for during the review process.
Chamberlains’ Directors Lead the Way
Stipe Vuleta and Ashleigh Blewitt’s nominations showcased their exceptional leadership and visionary approach, which have driven substantial positive changes at Chamberlains Law Firm. Their unwavering commitment to their clients and innovative strategies distinguish them as top leaders in their profession. Their efforts have not only bolstered the firm’s reputation but also created a supportive and vibrant workplace for their peers.
At the end of Australasian Lawyer’s review process, 73 individuals, including Vuleta and Blewitt, were recognized as the brightest young stars of the year.
Stipe Vuleta, Managing Director at Chamberlains Law Firm
With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility
At 34 years of age, Stipe is still one of the youngest in the game but nevertheless succeeds in juggling both multiple board and panel appointments, managing the firm, and leading his thriving Insolvency Team. Stipe has had a number of significant recent accomplishments, namely taking the lead of an extremely high profile and high value litigation in the digital currency space, in which he successfully litigated against internationally renowned law firms across multiple jurisdictions, domestically, in Hong Kong, and in the United States.
Qualities of a True Leader
As the high point of Chamberlains leadership, Stipe has helped bring up a generation of Directors that are frequently recognised by way of legal industry awards. Stipe believes that a rising tide lifts all ships. This inclusive and nourishing culture has seen Chamberlains commended on multiple occasions as its team jump from strength to strength.
The Power of Collaboration & Visionary Leadership
This culture of collaboration and teamwork, as opposed to the more traditional “every person for themselves” attitude law firms can be infamous for, is one of the key reasons Chamberlains has been able to more than double in size in less than 2.5 years, and to maintain that market share throughout periods of extreme market fluctuation and unpredictability. Stipe has disrupted the traditional path for law firms with his new-age approach to business and deserves to be recognized as a leader amongst Managing Directors.
Ashleigh Blewitt, Director at Chamberlains Law Firm
From Side Project to Heavy Hitter
Director of the Private Wealth Law Team, Ashleigh Blewitt leads one of the highest earning practices at Chamberlains, and has turned the team into a ‘side project’ for the firm into a viable and economically invaluable pillar of the firms earning capacity, both in terms of her development of Chamberlains’ Online Wills and in the sheer volume of estate planning work that is attracted to the firm by her professional ability.
Director & Author
Ashleigh has assisted in writing the book on Discretionary Testamentary Trusts, the pinnacle of Estate Planning in Australia. This is no mean achievement for someone so young, but hardly surprising in the context of the amazing things Ashleigh has achieved so far.
Online Wills
Ashleigh has been an integral part of an exciting new product for the firm, that being Online Wills. These are simple Wills that operate as a self-guided process combining sophisticated coding with expert written advice to enable individuals across Australia to create their own simple Wills via an online portal in the comfort of their own home.
This has allowed Chamberlains Law Firm to introduce a low-cost Will option, which has greatly increased the services the team is able to provide to members of the community that do not have the resources to prepare a Will in the traditional method, but still ensures they are left with a valid, high-quality Will.
Moving Forward
In conclusion, Chamberlains Law Firm’s recognition by Australasian Lawyer in the Global Best In Law 2024 underscores their unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation, and client support. Their numerous accolades, including being named among the 5-Star Employers of Choice, Fast Firms, and Law Firms of the Year, highlight their exceptional growth, strong workplace culture, and dedication to employee well-being.
The individual achievements of leaders like Ashleigh Blewitt and Stipe Vuleta further demonstrate the firm’s leadership and vision. Chamberlains’ continued expansion and innovative approaches solidify their position as a leading law firm in Australia and New Zealand, embodying their slogan, “We’re With You,” in every aspect of their practice.
*This article was prepared with the assistance of Jackson Bartulovic.