Lora Shaw

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...

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...

Matthew has over 18 years experience in insurance litigation and specialises in defending state statutory class and common law claims arising in the challenging Australian Capital Territory jurisdiction. He regularly assists insurers and self-insurers to liaise with the ACT regulator on issues concerning the ACT scheme. Matthew is highly experienced in the defence of state statutory classes litigation and uses his knowledge to assist clients with strategic claims management in order to achiev...

Catherine is a Family Law lawyer based in Canberra with Parker Coles Curtis . She is known for her clear communication, practical guidance and strategic approach, helping clients navigate complex family law matters with confidence and clarity during challenging periods in their lives. As an Accredited Specialist in Family Law and an Independent Children’s Lawyer (ICL), Catherine regularly represents and supports children in family law proceedings, appearing in court and advocating for o...

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 ...

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 ...

Elissa acts for Commonwealth government agencies and entities, universities and private sector organisations on employment, workplace relations and safety matters. Her focus is public sector employment and workplace relations. Elissa advises on enterprise bargaining (including drafting, strategy, industrial action and approval challenges), employment litigation (general protections, unfair dismissal, discrimination and bullying), workforce planning and reform, misconduct and underperformance ...

Bill has been a legal practitioner for over 30 years specialising in personal injury law including motor vehicle accidents and public liability, workers compensation, medical and dental negligence, and historical child sexual abuse cases. His practice also includes commercial litigation in the ACT courts involving insurance and professional indemnity issues, building and contract disputes, and employment matters. Bill’s straightforward manner complements his extensive experience and kno...

Angela acts for Commonwealth Government agencies and departments across technology, procurement and contracting matters. Her clients include Defence and other major Commonwealth entities. Angela advises on Australian Government procurement, information and communications technology contracts, software development and licensing, data protection and privacy, business process outsourcing, IP licensing, technology commercialisation and Defence infrastructure projects. She advises on all phases of...

Ian has broad experience across diverse jurisdictions and areas of law with a specialisation in commercial litigation, building and construction, and insurance law. He also has experience in professional negligence claims, leasing disputes, and personal injury. Ian is recognised by his peers in The Best Lawyers in Australia list in dual fields of litigation and insurance law. His broad experience, including his regularly acting for both plaintiffs and defendants, enables him to provide a bala...