This is Allens

I’ve always believed in trying to leave things in a better condition than how they started. That mindset has shaped how I approach my work and how I try to support others coming up through the profession. I was the first in my family to study law (and the second to go to university), and I’ve learned the value of working hard and having a strong support system around you that offers perspective and helps you see things differently.

I've had the benefit of amazing mentorship and champions within the profession and industry more generally, and that's something I try to pay forward with junior colleagues (both internally and externally). My advice to junior lawyers is always to take every opportunity, even the unexpected ones, and to build a network of people who will challenge and support them.

Mentorship, to me, is about being that steady presence in someone’s corner.

When it comes to clients, my ultimate goal is to be an extension of their team. I want them to feel like I’m right there with them, not just advising from the sidelines. That means being adaptable, understanding their goals, and building trust. I’ve had clients say, 'Just run with it, and call me if anything’s off'. That kind of trust is earned, and it’s something I take seriously. I also think it’s important to bring a bit of humanity to our work - we all work hard, but it helps to have a laugh along the way and build real connections.

My focus as a real estate and development lawyer is on major projects, capital transactions, capital partnerships and energy transition. I’ve always been a bit of a property nerd - I love seeing something come out of the ground and knowing I was part of the team to bring all the moving parts together. Whether it’s a new precinct, joining the pieces of a transmission line together, a renewable energy project or new business/development opportunities - there’s always a property footprint, and I enjoy figuring out how everything fits. It’s like solving a puzzle.

One of the biggest challenges facing the real estate and development sector at the moment is being able to get feasibilities to stack up. Rising construction costs, navigating planning processes (including contributions) and higher interest rates/borrower costs are making it harder to get projects off the ground as quickly as clients would like. It's also more competitive than ever to secure development sites and premium properties (across so many asset classes).

More positively, those challenges mean our clients are adapting. In particular, we’re seeing more capital partnering, with local developers teaming up with international investors to get projects moving. It’s a more complex environment, but also one that’s exciting and full of opportunity if you can bring the right people together.

Since joining Allens, what’s stood out to me is how genuinely collaborative the culture is. There’s a real respect for different perspectives, and a willingness to work together across teams and offices. It's a true partnership. It’s not unusual to have multiple specialist groups in a room working on one project when needed, each bringing something different to the table. That kind of seamless integration is unique, and makes a big difference for clients.