Erica Panagakos

Brett Cowell is a founding partner and the Chairman of Cowell Clarke and is a Director of the firm’s Corporate and Commercial team. Brett’s passion for science, technology, and innovation has enabled him to support corporate and business clients in growing and protecting their tangible and intellectual property assets. Brett has very broad-based experience, with a particular interest in advanced manufacturing, defence, ICT, life sciences and technology businesses on a national and...

Matthew Fuss is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Personal Injury Litigation. Matthew, who practices law in Adelaide, Australia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matthew is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

I am 62 years old (or so I’m told). I graduated in April 1986 from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Economics (Accounting) and a Bachelor of Laws (Honours). My Honours supervisor was John Bradsen (now, Bradman). Later that same year, I completed my Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies, then recently introduced as a substitute for Articles. I have since completed a Master of Laws (1996) . My dissertation supervisor was Emeritus Professor Andrew Ligertwood and the marker was Kev...

Loretta has primary responsibility for key client relationships with a particular focus on understanding their commercial objectives and ensuring the firm delivers practical, timely and effective outcomes. She has been a Partner of the firm since 1998 and was elected Chair of the Board of Partners in 2007. Loretta has worked closely with Chief Executive Partner Adrian Tembel in the development of the firm over a long period, including its growth from a South Australian firm into one of Austra...

Michael acts for major companies and financial institutions, insolvency practitioners, creditors and business owners in South Australia, nationally and internationally. Michael advises on the full range of money and asset recovery work (offence and defence). Restructuring and insolvency work: corporate and personal insolvency, bankruptcy, liquidation, receiverships, voluntary administrations, deeds of company arrangement and securities enforcement. He also acts in insolvency litigation, inclu...

David acts for a wide range of Australian and international clients across complex corporate, commercial and regulatory disputes. His clients span corporations law, intellectual property, competition and consumer law, franchising, agribusiness and education matters. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the International Academy of Mediators, an accredited mediator since 1993, and a member of the mediator panels of the Law Society of SA and the Resolution Institute. David litigates, manages and res...

Gerry is the Co-Head of our M&A (Private) and Equity Capital Markets (Private) practices. He h as been advising on capital raising transactions, mergers and acquisitions and capital structuring for over 30 years in key financial markets including Sydney, Hong Kong and London. He is a trusted advisor to our clients. Gerry’s experience includes leading the Kain teams advising: sportsmed on the sale of their hospital to Burnside War Memorial Hospital; SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on it...

Lauren Rowan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation. Lauren, who practices law in Adelaide, Australia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Lauren is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Matthew Hawke is Special Counsel in Cowell Clarke’s Building, Construction & Infrastructure and Dispute Resolution teams. Matthew has broad experience in construction advice and disputes (including construction contract drafting and advice), compulsory acquisition disputes, and the construction industry security of payment regimes across Australia. When not working in the construction space, Matthew supports clients in negotiating or litigating their general contractual, misrepresen...

Jamie Watts is the leader of Cowell Clarke’s Building, Construction and Infrastructure team, bringing nearly 30 years of experience to his market leading guidance and advice. With expertise ranging from the drafting of contracts to the settlement of disputes, Jamie’s understanding of the whole construction cycle allows him to identify and minimise risk from procurement to completion. Although the avoidance of future claims and disputes is Jamie’s primary goal, he has signifi...