Leading national law firm Mills Oakley has announced 63 promotions across the firm, including the appointment of 6 new partners, reflecting its continued strong national growth and ongoing investment in its people.

The promotions span all practice areas and offices nationwide, demonstrating the depth of talent across the firm and its commitment to recognising and developing high-performing professionals.

The appointments include lawyers at all levels, from Associate through to Special Counsel and Partner. The newly appointed partners further strengthen the firm’s expertise in banking and finance; commercial disputes and insolvency; health and life sciences; insurance; and family law.

New Partner Appointments:

• Alesha Burke (Insurance, Sydney) has extensive litigation experience and advises on complex insurance disputes, including professional indemnity and medical malpractice matters across multiple jurisdictions.
• Julian Grover (Health and Life Sciences, Sydney) focuses on transactional matters, advising on commercial agreements and regulatory frameworks within the health and life sciences sector.
• Robert Murphy (Banking and Finance, Sydney) advises lenders, borrowers and developers on major construction, property and infrastructure financing transactions.
• Phoebe Pitt (Commercial Disputes and Insolvency, Adelaide) is experienced in complex, multi-party commercial disputes and insolvency matters across jurisdictions.
• Leah Pryde (Insurance, Sydney) specialises in public liability, professional indemnity and CTP matters, advising insurers and corporate clients on complex liability and quantum issues.
• Emily Wood (Family Law, Brisbane) advises on complex family law matters, including property disputes and parenting arrangements, with a strong focus on achieving practical, client-focused outcomes.

In addition to the new partner appointments, Mills Oakley has promoted individuals across all levels of the firm, including 9 Special Counsel, 23 Senior Associates and 25 Associates, highlighting the strength of its talent pipeline and clear pathways for career progression.

Mills Oakley Chief Executive Officer John Nerurker said the promotions reflect both the firm’s strong performance and the calibre of its people.

“These promotions reflect the depth, capability and ambition of our people across the firm. It is particularly pleasing to see so many individuals stepping into new leadership roles as we continue to grow nationally.

Our success is driven by our ability to attract, develop and retain exceptional talent. These appointments ensure we remain well positioned to deliver high-quality, commercially focused advice and strong outcomes for our clients. Our ongoing commitment to excellence and client service continues to set Mills Oakley apart, and we are proud to support the continued progression of our people.”

The promotions align with Mills Oakley’s strategic focus on strengthening key practice areas, supporting leadership development and fostering a high-performing and inclusive culture. This growth has also been supported by the addition of 20 lateral partner hires over the past twelve months, bringing the firm’s total number of partners to 191 as at 2 July 2026, positioning Mills Oakley as the fifth largest firm in Australia.

These appointments further reflect the firm’s continued national expansion and its commitment to investing in its people at every stage of their careers.

The promotions take effect from 1 July 2026.

Full list of internal promotions at Mills Oakley: