Stuart Marris

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...

Lauren Armstrong is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Insurance Law. Lauren practices law in Canberra, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Lauren Armstrong since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Lauren Armstrong is held by other lawyers.

Sarah acts for Commonwealth Government agencies and private sector clients on defence and national security matters, export control and regulation, and government procurement. She is part of the firm’s defence and national security practice. Sarah advises on defence and national security legal frameworks, export control obligations under the Defence Trade Controls Act and associated legislation, and government procurement. Her practice spans the legal architecture governing Australia&rs...

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 ...

Georgina Adams is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Commercial Law, Corporate / Governance Practice, Government Practice, Information Technology Law, Outsourcing Law, Public Law and Telecommunications Law. Georgina practices law in Canberra, Australia Best Lawyers has recognized Georgina Adams since 2014. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the profes...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...