Jacob Powell

https://www.thelawyermag.com/au/news/general/laugh-every-day-says-mills-oakley-partner/228601 Bernice has a broad-ranging commercial-disputes practice, but her specialities are insolvency and debt recovery, shareholder disputes, and building and construction disputes. She is sought out for her sound technical advice, along with her straight-talking and commercially pragmatic approach to protecting the interests of her clients. Bernice has been described as 'formidable and practical', 'a brigh...

Keith is a Director in the Estates and Estate Planning Section and brings more than 40 years’ experience in legal practice. An active member of the legal community in Canberra, he is regularly asked to lecture on various aspects of estate planning including charitable trusts, special disability trusts, succession planning, superannuation and family provision claims. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association Australia, a Member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners ...

Paul acts for Commonwealth Government agencies, statutory authorities and private sector employers. Paul joined Thomsons in July 2025, bringing with him deep Commonwealth client relationships built over an extensive career. Paul’s practice spans all aspects of employment and industrial relations, WHS governance, administrative law and government procurement. He advises on enterprise bargaining, individual and collective workplace agreements, discrimination complaints, investigations of ...

Melanie acts for Commonwealth government agencies, statutory entities and corporate clients. Melanie's clients operate across the full spectrum of Commonwealth activity. Her clients include Comcover, ATO and Departments including Finance, Defence, Home Affairs, Industry, Attorney-General's and Agriculture. Melanie joined Thomsons in July 2025 as part of the transition of the one of Australia’s premier Commonwealth government practices. Melanie’s practice spans litigation, dispute ...

As Legal Director of the Planning, Environment and Local Government team Alice provides skilled and professional advice and representation for local government and private clients on a wide range of NSW and ACT planning, environmental and administrative law matters. Alice is a pragmatic and practical problem solver who works in partnership with her clients to deliver ‘on ground’ results. She enjoys providing strategic advice on how best to achieve her client’s goals, and spe...

Sarah acts for Commonwealth Government departments and agencies on procurement, contracting and governance matters. Her client base is primarily the Commonwealth and Commonwealth entities, with a particular focus on defence procurement and capital equipment acquisition. Sarah advises on procurement activities for aviation, land vehicle and maritime assets, governance matters for statutory corporations, contract negotiations, competitive tendering processes and privatisations. She leads contra...

Nevin is a dispute resolution expert with over 30 years of legal experience. He specialises in government regulatory work and administrative decision making. He also has extensive experience in insurance backed litigation claims extending from professional indemnity – doctors, directors and lawyers to toxic torts, public liability, personal injury, aviation incidents and coronials. Nevin’s experience with government clients has provided him with insight to the various stakeholders...

Rebecca has extensive experience in advising the Commonwealth in relation to workers’ compensation matters. She is fully cognisant of the responsibilities of the Commonwealth in adhering to the Model Litigant Policy and the unique challenges that this can bring. In a previous role Rebecca successfully held the position of National Client Service Manager for Comcare, which, as a significant client, brought enormous responsibility from a business perspective. Rebecca is focussed on delive...

Shelley acts for local and national corporate clients across strata, development, building and construction sectors. Her clients include owners corporations, property developers, contractors, construction companies and corporate entities engaged in disputes and litigation often arising from real estate and construction activity. Shelley specialises in the resolution of corporate governance disputes, commercial and corporate contractual disputes, and residential and commercial construction dis...

Steve advises departments of the Commonwealth Government, most notably the Department of Defence, on procurement, contracting and construction matters. He acts for both government agencies and private sector clients participating in government procurement. Steve advises on all aspects of procurement and construction projects including: strategic advice, acquisition strategies, risk analysis, drafting and negotiating contract and tender documentation, contract administration, IT contracts, ris...