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Partner & Special Counsel

Whether you seek a stronger platform from which to deliver on your clients’ expectations; a more profitable model in terms of leverage and to maximise your earning potential; or simply to identify a better cultural alignment, we can help you achieve your goals.

Having been the confidante to many Partners on the range of challenges faced, Craig Ashton-Sward has facilitated more than 100 lateral appointments to alternate partnerships in some of Australia’s largest and most successful practices, from specialist M&A firms, to mid-tier nationals and first-tier globals.

​Craig can share with you his unique insights, comprehensive written briefs, as well as sensitive yet critical intelligence on:

Partnership culture and idiosyncrasies including values and camaraderie (trust us when we say that no one firm is perfect);

Individual profitability of the relevant firms;

Partnership structures and equity distribution;

Strategic growth plans;

Intra/Cross practice compatibility;

Performance expectations; as well as

Historical transitions.

If ultimately a move is determined the best course of action, Craig facilitates high level discussions with the relevant Board member of select firms. This is executed with precision, discretion, and absolute confidentiality.  He has assisted Partners in writing detailed business plans that identify only relevant information including key practice components as well as transitioning requirements, and less of the white noise.

Craig will advise you when the appropriate time is to table this information to ensure your commercial interests are preserved. Most importantly, he will only ever confer with the relevant Board member after you have done your research and at a time when you have expressed in writing that you are ready to take that cautious next step. Absolutely everything stays in the vault until that time. Additionally:

all discussions are without cost to you; and

if required, a list of Partner references for whom we have facilitated these moves can be made available at your request.

​​Partner Successes Here

In terms of our historical performance for specialist practices and top-tier law firms, Law Staff has been instrumental in creating vertical portfolios for clients in the areas of Construction, Major Projects, Corporate Finance, Corporate M&A, Taxation, Defendant Insurance, Intellectual Property & Technology, Workplace Law, Planning & Environment, Property, Migration Law; as well as Government Services.

Our advisory work has been instrumental in the migration of sizeable teams and has resulted in top line increases of up to $8M in terms of annual revenue growth, outstripping the timeline and investment surrounding traditional organic development.

Latest jobs in Partner & Special Counsel

Craig has been in the consulting arena for over 30 years. After gaining considerable experience and knowledge working for a boutique legal staff consultancy, he founded this company in October 1987 and has been the Managing Director since 1992.In this time Craig has developed an extensive clientele in both the corporate sectors and in private practice, as well as with a range of State and Commonwealth Government departments.With these years of experience behind him, Craig is also the Executive Team Leader for Law Staff and is now consulted by medium and large organisations requesting his in...

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Trudy Reading

Senior Client Advisor

Trudy joined Law Staff in 2014 with over 13 years' experience in the Brisbane legal industry. Her skill set and experience includes Administration, Accounts and more extensively Human Resources within a well-respected Mid Tier Brisbane commercial law firm. This has given her first-hand knowledge and an indepth understanding of the many challenges and resourcing requirements of sizable legal practices.As HR manager, she was responsible for the recruitment and deployment of Professional Staff, Shared Services and Support Staff. She was also heavily involved in Training and Development, Perfor...

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