mv - community engagement report 2014 "red ivy"

MEYER VANDENBERG COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT REPORT 2013/2014

Meyer Vandenberg is very pleased to issue its third Community Engagement Report. Newly titled “Red Ivy” - a play on our brand, a representation of Canberra’s Autumn colours, our connections and friendships, and because of its propensity to go forth and thrive without inhibition.

Community EngagemEnt Committee 2014


OUR GIFT TO CAnBERRA IS OUR tIMEIn 2013/14 the Committee saw great levels of involvement in pro bono work (legal work for those that needed our legal help but cannot pay) – we contributed over $110,000 worth of pro bono legal work! We were extremely proud that:

• Over 60% of full time lawyers and qualified staff participated in pro bono legal work; and

• Two of our lawyers completed a three month secondment with the ACT Law Society Pro Bono Clearing House.

For Meyer Vandenberg, pro bono work is an important part of our practice and we support and encourage pro bono legal work by:

• Accepting pro bono referrals from a wide variety of sources and building pro bono partnerships within the Canberra community;

• Promoting opportunities for our lawyers to engage in pro bono work;

• Providing flexible support to lawyers who want to work on pro bono matters;

• Recognising that a good pro bono culture starts from the top with partners and senior lawyers leading by example;

• Rewarding the achievements of lawyers who go the extra mile with monthly recognition and annual awards for pro bono leaders and contributors; and

• Tailoring our Community Engagement Policy to ensure our resources are directed to the people who need them most.

Each year the team at Meyer Vandenberg elect one local charity on which all of our fundraising contributions and workplace-assisted volunteer efforts can be focused.

We have worked hard to keep our staff motivated and our ideas fresh, and in 2013/14 the Committee saw greater levels of engagement with our chosen charity, RSPCA ACT, than ever before. While we would like to take the credit, we are certain that it was the adorable puppies and kittens who did the real leg work! Our Chosen Charity Program yielded the firms’ biggest ever financial donation of $14,000.

It is amazing how much money you can raise through workplace events such as morning teas, movie nights, raffles and auctions, games, mufti days, and sporting events!

Meyer Vandenberg’s commitment to community and pro bono contributions continues to grow like ‘Red Ivy’.

Meyer Vandenberg’s chosen charity for 2013/14


OUR DOnATION TO CHOSEN CHARITY RSPCA ACTEach financial year Meyer Vandenberg’s staff elects a local charity to support through both workplace assisted volunteering and financial support. Once selected, we engage in countless hours coming up with fundraising activities, volunteering our time and donating as much as we can.

The mV pigGy BAnks foR ChaRiTY

Thanks for the generous support that Meyer Vandenberg has given us this year. Your team has been a lot of fun too.

Your efforts really made a difference to the RSPCA ACT. It costs us on average $44/animal in healthcare. This does not include the time of our veterinarians or nurses. This is only the cost of desexing anaesthetics, medications, vaccines and tests like x-rays or blood work. So, if we look at it from that perspective, this financial year Meyer Vandenberg’s donation has contributed to the health care of over 310 shelter animals!

MV has been a terrific partner organisation to the RSPCA ACT this year.

Tammy Ven Dange CEO RSPCA ACT


In 2013/14 we were thrilled to support the RSPCA ACT. Our efforts amassed $14,000 for RSPCA ACT, ensuring that we have left our mark on the ACT Community and ensured that the RSPCA ACT can continue their wonderful work.

Every year, RSPCA ACT stretch their minimal budget and manpower to provide for Canberra wildlife and unwanted or stray animals, by providing shelter for unwanted companion animals, emergency care for wildlife and make it their priority to find new and loving homes for animals wherever possible. In addition to a wide variety of services, RSPCA staff and volunteer carers provide around the clock care for thousands of injured wildlife to give them the best opportunity to be rehabilitated and released back to their native habitats.

“It’s easy to understand the excitement of our staff in raising money for RSPCA – the little furry friends are all very cute and the RSPCA do a wonderful job protecting and caring for them.”

Annette Gleeson Meyer Vandenberg

“At the MV Mexican lunch, our staff donated money and time by cooking and preparing one of the most amazing Mexican feasts I have ever seen. It was great to all get together and dine on delicious food and enjoy Mexican music all for a good cause”

Rhiannon Cooper Meyer Vandenberg


This year, Meyer Vandenberg staff put their heads together and came up with a plethora of internal fundraising events to help raise as much money as possible for RSPCA. These events included a cupcake day, a movie night, countless raffles, a silent auction, Melbourne cup games, mufti days, staff cooking and baking, morning teas, a Mexican lunch, a multi-cultural lunch and a Fun Run!

A hero of our fundraising efforts this year was our very own Records Manager, Colleen McConnell. A long standing and crucial member of the Meyer Vandenberg family, Colleen has been relentless in her efforts to raise money for this worthy cause.

“We didn’t know that Colleen was such an excellent baker until the RSPCA became our chosen charity. Almost every week there was something new and delicious in the kitchen in order to entice people to donate. She also brought in 5c pieces from home by the bucket load.”

Alisa Taylor Meyer Vandenberg


All ThinGS bRight aNd beAUtIful

Our firm takes a positive approach in supporting our chosen charity by inspiring staff to volunteer their time and help out their local community. To encourage this, Meyer Vandenberg has established an additional leave entitlement, which entitles each employee to one additional day’s leave per year to be used to attend events of, or assist in volunteering with our chosen charity.

mIlLIOn pAWS WALkIn May 2014, Meyer Vandenberg staff headed down to Stage 88 to help out at the RSPCA Million Paws Walk. The Million Paws Walk is RSPCA’s major fundraising event, in which Canberrans bring their dogs of all shapes and sizes down to Stage 88, to enjoy a 5km walk around the picturesque Lake Burley Griffin. Even a pig entered the event this year!

Meyer Vandenberg staff woke up early on a crisp Sunday morning and assisted RSPCA in setting up water bowls, manning the registration gates and acting as Walk Marshalls. It was a fantastic morning with a buzzing atmosphere and we loved seeing all the inventive costumes and adorable pets in the community.

In response to the efforts of staff at the Million Paws Walk, RSPCA ACT said:

OUR VOlunteER WORk FOR RSPCA ACTIn addition to fundraising activities collecting over $14,000 for the RSPCA ACT this year, Meyer Vandenberg staff volunteered their time throughout the year to this worthwhile cause.

“A huge thank you to the Meyer Vandenberg volunteers that helped us at the Million Paws Walk on 18 May. Thanks to your support and others, we were able to raise over $100k towards the prevention of cruelty to animals in the Canberra community.”

Tammy Ven Dange CEO RSPCA ACT


It’S RAINIng CATS AnD DOgS WORKIng beEIn June 2014, on a dark, dreary and wet day, Meyer Vandenberg staff visited the RSPCA shelter at Weston to assist in a major clean up. We donned gloves and flexed our muscles to move old unused furniture and various collections of outdated enclosures and broken toys that were cluttering the shelter’s outdoor areas, helping the RSPCA to focus their staffing and funding where it is most required and getting our office-weary staff some much needed fresh air.

“Volunteering with RSPCA has proved to be a fantastic opportunity to show our support to such a worthy charity. I love that the firm is so flexible in allowing time to get out into our community to give back. So many of us say we wish we were more involved and Meyer Vandenberg actively encourages its staff to get involved”

Eleanor Heffernan Meyer Vandenberg


mEYER VAnDEnbeRg’S COMMItmeNT TO PRO bONO lEgAl WORk sTROng agAin In 2013/14At Meyer Vandenberg we recognise our professional responsibility to provide the unique skills of our lawyers on a pro bono basis to those in need that are otherwise unable to access legal assistance.

OuR LegAl EaglES

pROuD sIgNAtORy TO nAtiOnAL PRO bONO RESOURCE CEnTRe’S aSPiRaTIOnAl tARgETMeyer Vandenberg has been a proud signatory to the National Pro Bono Resource Centre’s Aspirational Target since 2010. As a signatory, we set a target number of hours of pro bono work to be undertaken per lawyer each year aiming towards reaching the National Pro Bono Resource Centre’s Aspirational Target of 35 hours of pro bono legal work per lawyer per year. By signing up to the Aspirational Target, Meyer Vandenberg pledged its best efforts to achieving the Aspirational Target to address the unmet legal needs of the poor and disadvantaged in our local community.

OuR pRo bOno pERfORMAnCeIn 2013/14 our firm performed pro bono legal work to the value of $110,000.00.

This was a fantastic achievement and one we hope to build on in the coming years.

OuR pRo bOno WORkOver the past twelve months we received a number of requests for pro bono assistance. The bulk of these referrals were received from the ACT Law Society Pro Bono Clearing House. However, we have also received referrals from the Welfare Rights and Legal Centre, direct requests through our website and referrals from government departments.

OUR lAWYERS hAVE A sTROng tRADItIOn Of undERtAKing PRO bONO lEgAl WORk, bOTH On mAtTERS tAKEn On bY ThE fIRm WItHOUt CHARgE AnD At DROP In CEnTRES AnD lEgAl ClINICS WItHIN ThE CAnBERRA REgiOn.


Of the referrals we received:

• Over half were accepted;

• Two referrals were rejected due to a conflict of interest; and

• The remainder of referrals fell outside the scope of our Pro Bono Policy.

Generally, the types of matters that have been referred to us are either of a commercial nature (for example, setting up organisations or drafting constitutions) or relate to a dispute. Some more unusual referrals include an application under the New South Wales victims of crime compensation scheme and employment advice to not for profit associations.

AsSiStinG A PeNSiOnER wiTh A unit TiTleS DIsPuTe Earlier this year Tessa Dignam and Alisa Taylor of the Dispute Resolution Team assisted a pensioner who lived in one of two residences in a unit titled complex. The Owners Corporation of the complex was being sued for a debt incurred because the Owners Corporation did not pay the electrical bills. Our client had in fact paid her share of the bills and it was only the other owner who had defaulted. The energy company had

succeeded in suing the Owners Corporation for the debt and ACAT had appointed an Administrator to facilitate payment of the debt and issued a $12,500 levy per owner to cover its fees. As a pensioner, our client could not afford this expense. We applied to ACAT for orders that the debt and any associated expenses - past or future be paid exclusively by the other owner. The ACAT granted those orders in April 2014.

Our client said:

“I am so grateful that Meyer Vandenberg was able to take on my matter and for all the assistance I received. I am doubtful that I would have been able to pay for legal assistance and I don’t know where I would have been now. At times the litigation process was overwhelming but everyone at Meyer Vandenberg who worked with me on the matter was very helpful and kind and always took the time to explain the legal issues to me.”

Client Meyer Vandenberg


RSPCA ACT CLean uP DAy


OUR WISE oWLS

OUR knOWledgE mAnAgemeNT teAm’S GIVing tREE In AID Of RSPCA ACTOne of the most successful fundraising activities was organised by our resident Knowledge Management team, Alison Jones and Geraldine McDonagh, and they certainly weren’t barking up the wrong tree.

Inspired by images of Christmas trees made of books on the Internet, the Knowledge Management Team at Meyer Vandenberg decided that such a tree could be created within the firm’s library space. Building the tree proved more of a challenge than first expected. Our Knowledge Manager, Alison Jones, explains:

“As we were struggling to get our tree to look like a tree and to stay upright, it occurred to us that the effort was worthwhile if the tree was more than a lovely decoration for our library space. In that moment, the idea of transforming our tree into a Giving Tree for the firm was born – and our wonderful Community Engagement Committee came on board immediately.”

“Committee members sought the RSPCA’s advice on goods that would be useful to their work at the RSPCA Weston shelter. We invited staff to donate such items as presents under our tree. Staff from across the firm specifically

visited our library space to donate goods to the tree. Just before Christmas, I delivered $125 worth of pet food and pet toys to the RSPCA shelter in Weston.”

“As knowledge staff, we enjoy running events which directly help out Meyer Vandenberg’s nominated charity. Not only does our work directly assist our firm’s charity and through that, the broader Canberra community, but we also build stronger connections to other members of staff by engaging with them on a more personal level.”

The Giving Tree was a fantastic initiative and well received by the staff and RSPCA ACT!

“This event was so successful that we hope to make the Giving Tree initiative one of our regular fundraisers in years to come for other charities”.

Stephanie Lynch Meyer Vandenberg


ReD IVYMeyer Vandenberg is very proud of the commitment of its staff to the Canberra Community.

OUR pRIDE

Staff Member Role

Kimberley Baillie ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee

Tanya Berlis ACT Legal Executive Committee (ALEC), Deputy Chair of the Australian Law Management Group (ALMG)

Susan Blain Manager, Marist U14 Div 3 soccer team

Greg Brackenreg Vice President of the ACT Law Society and Member of the Canberra, Board member of Strata Communities Australia ACT Chapter, Vice President of ACT Law Society, Chair of the Law Society Council

Hugh Chalmers Chair, OzHelp Foundation Ltd and member, Finance Audit and Risk Committee; Councillor, ACT Division of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member, AICD Law Committee and Not for Profit Steering Committee; Member, ACT Government Inclusion Council; Member, ACT Government Healthy Workplaces Advisory Committee, Mentor, Lighthouse Business Innovation Centre’s Leading Lights Program and Management Committee Member, Dragon Flyers Dragon Boating Club

Bernice Ellis Board member, Community Programs Association (LEAD)

Ben Fuller Director, Tennis ACT; Director, The Olivia Lambert Foundation, Member, ACT Division of the Executive Divisional Council of the Property Council of Australia and Deputy Chair, ACT Division of the Planning Committee of the Property Council of Australia

Justine Harper Board for Families ACT

Alison Jones Member, Australian Law Librarians’ Association Vendor Relations Subcommittee

Fee Knights Committee of Little Athletics


Staff Member Role

Stephanie Lynch Board Member, Basketball ACT until February 2014; ACT Division of the Property Council Residential Property Committee

Jason McMaster Assistant Coach, the Gungahlin Jets football team

John Morrissey Board, ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee; Volunteer

Christine Murray Director, Havelock Housing Association; Director, ACT Writers Centre

Athol Opas Director (Board Secretary) Lifeline Canberra Inc.; Member, ACT Law Society Legal Professional Act & Ethics Committee; Member, ACT Law Society Access to Justice Committee; Member, ACT Law Society Government Lawyers Committee

Kristen Porter Assistant and advisor, Fashfest Canberra; and Member, YWCA Canberra

Samuel Stapleton Member, Burgmann College ANU Alumni Association Committee

Alice Tay Board and Audit Committee member, Gambling & Racing Commission; Member, the Commonwealth Club Board; Convenor, the Commonwealth Club Membership Committee

Alisa Taylor Board member, The Street Theatre - Canberra; Member, the National Association of Women in Construction; Member, the Housing Industry Association; Member, the Society of Construction Law Australia; Member, the Professional Council - MBA (ACT)

Archie Tsirimokos Board Chairman, Communities@Work; Deputy Chair, the Canberra Business Council; Chairman, ALFA Australasian Group of Law Firms; Member, Brumbies Strategic Commercial Advisory Community

Emma Vautin Member, the Canberra Premier League Squash Competition


OUR mVIROnmeNTAl fOOTPRINT Driven by our Community Engagement Committee, the Meyer Vandenberg Partnership remains committed to maintaining a sustainable workplace by reducing the firm’s overall environmental impact.

OUR PAW pRINT

Meyer Vandenberg has held ACTSmart business accreditation since June 2012. ACTSmart is an ACT Government led initiative assisting local businesses and households to contribute towards a more sustainable future and reduce the overall carbon footprint of the ACT region. As part of the re-accreditation process each year, Meyer Vandenberg is required to improve, or maintain the waste management practices and recycling and sustainability initiatives year on year.

Our recent improvements include:

• Our Property Projects team implemented moves towards becoming a “paperless office”;

• Providing mixed-recycling stations at each desk;

• Replacing all printers with more energy-efficient models that provide for integrated faxing facilities and electronic printing management leading to a reduction (on average) of 38,000 less pages printed each month;

• Renovation of all communal facilities within our offices, including the introduction of more water-efficient showering facilities and energy-efficient, motion activated lighting; and

• Implementing printer cartridge recycling.

Our maintained commitments include:

• Continued access to secure, undercover bicycle storage for staff;

• Continued access to organic waste collection in all kitchens;

• Continued access to mixed-recycling points and recycling of confidential waste;

• Continued commitment to reducing waste management including targeted reduction of single-use crockery and cutlery; and

• Prominently posting signs at light switches, taps, waste bins and recycling points throughout the office, encouraging responsible water usage and recycling.


Meyer Vandenberg is a regular supporter of local and national environmental initiatives, including encouraging attendance and providing staff incentives for a healthier lifestyle, including subsidised fitness classes, promotion of events such as ‘walk to work day’ and supporting and providing facilities for staff that cycle.

The Community Engagement Committee has also driven the firm’s involvement in Earth Hour since 2009, encouraging staff participation in the office and their own households. Earth Hour is a worldwide grassroots movement organised by WWF, originating in Sydney where a ‘lights off’ event occurred in 2007, now recognised globally as a key driver of the environmental issues message.

“The Meyer Vandenberg partners are very proud to remain committed to maintaining a sustainable workplace by reducing the firm’s overall environmental impact. We look forward to implementing further initiatives that are a ‘win-win’ for our business and our ‘MVironment’ such as streamlining our precedents and heading towards paperless offices’

Christine Murray Meyer Vandenberg


OUR CORpORATE pARTneRSHIp WITH yWCA AnD unWOmEnWe entered into corporate partnerships with both UN Women and the YWCA Canberra and performed pro bono work for these two valuable organisations again this year.

Partner Stephanie Lynch assisted the YWCA on a pro bono basis with the establishment of a Computer Club at Richardson Primary School.

The YWCA Computer Clubhouse is located at Richardson Primary School in the suburb of Richardson, which has the highest number of people in the ACT (24%) who fall into the most disadvantaged 20% of all 15-64 year old Australians.

The purpose of the YWCA Computer Clubhouse is to address these significant equity issues in the Tuggeranong region, and

re-engage young people in education and in their community. The Clubhouse particularly targets disadvantaged young people aged 10 to 18, young women and girls, and young people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.

For many of these young people, the Clubhouse is their first out-of-school learning experience where they have access to high-tech tools, leadership development, and self-directed learning. Importantly, the Clubhouse also connects young people to internship opportunities with local ICT organisations, professional development opportunities, and future employment through the program’s mentors and industry partners.

“Initiatives like the Computer Clubhouse, which have equal investment from community, business and government, helps close the inequality gap that vulnerable communities experience. We’re pleased to provide a critical pathway for our young people in Tuggeranong to participate in and benefit from the Canberra community’s social, cultural and economic development”.

Frances Crimmins YWCA Canberra.

OUR pRIDE OUR WOMEn In lEADERShiP


fORumS FOR WOMEnPartner Stephanie Lynch attended AFL NSW/ACT’s Young Women’s Invitation Breakfast and co-hosted a table alongside other prominent Canberra women.

Partner Alisa Taylor joined the partnership in 2013/14. Alisa was on the panel for the Women & Justice Forum 2014 conducted by Women’s Legal ACT “Women and the Workplace: Lean in or Left Out?”

Alisa along with fellow panellists Ged Kearney and Professor Margaret Thornton discussed their views before a number of young female guests.

CAnBERRA CAPiTAlSPartner and former Canberra Capital, Stephanie Lynch, in her capacity as board member of Basketball ACT assisted with the transfer of the Canberra Capitals from Basketball ACT to the University of Canberra in a move that will eventually result in Australia’s first fully professional female sporting team.

“I am very excited about the prospect of seeing the likes of Lauren Jackson and Abby Bishop playing for the University of Canberra Capitals. Professional sport is an area of work where equality is severely lacking. I felt very privileged to be part of a transaction that maximised the potential for young female basketball players coming through the ranks and being given the opportunity to be paid or be offered university scholarships allowing them to dedicate more time to their work – playing basketball”, said Stephanie Lynch.

“Meyer Vandenberg breaks the mould for legal firms as it has virtually equal numbers of males and females at partnership level. This would never have been possible without supportive male partners to make bold decisions like endorsing a younger female as the firm’s expert in a male-dominated field, or hiring the best person for the job even though she happens to be on maternity leave”

Alisa Taylor Meyer Vandenberg

“It is great to see a female on a sporting board in the ACT. We need more women in the board room especially in sport. Your firm’s support was integral to getting the Caps deal with UC over the line and will change the lives of many female professional basketball players into the future”.

Carrie Graf Canberra Capitals

“It’s great to see Meyer Vandenberg performing pro bono work for organisations like UNWomen, YWCA Canberra and the UC Canberra Capitals. I am looking forward to next season and the opportunities the team will offer to inspire women”.

Lauren Jackson Australian Opal Canberra Capitals

Photo supplied by University of Canberra


mV hElpS JORDIE GAVin REPREseNT aUSTRaliA!One of Meyer Vandenberg’s proudest achievements this year was a trivia night organised by our Practice Manager, Tanya Berlis in support of our Conveyancing Clerk, Jordan Gavin.Jordan is a talented Ice Hockey and Inline Hockey player. In 2014 Jordan was selected to represent Australia as Captain of the 2014 Inline Hockey World Champions from 22 to 25 May in Pardubice, Czech Republic.

When Jordan mentioned that the team receives no funding, Tanya rallied the staff and clients to help support Jordan in representing Australia!

“It is such an honour to represent your country and we (Jordan’s work family) felt an obligation to help him get to the Championship”, said Tanya.

Tanya was relentless in her determination to organise a successful event and the partners and staff at Meyer Vandenberg rose to the challenge!

• Our client, the Hellenic Club donated their function room

• Various clients, partners & staff donated prizes and auction items for the fundraiser

• Special Counsel Hugh Chalmer’s band entertained us

• Special Counsel Athol Opas was our MC

• Finance Manager Amanda Francis crunched the numbers

• Administrative Assistant and resident trivia guru, Patrick Shea, drafted the trivia questions

• Jason McMaster managed the floor.

The trivia night was held on 3 April 2014 and was attended by 175 trivia buffs. The Meyer Vandenberg Litigation Team aptly named “So Sue Me”, won the night! In total, Meyer Vandenberg raised over $10,000 to assist Jordan to compete in Prague.

The Australian Inline Hockey team became the most successful Australian Inline team in history. Our own Jordie with a successful assist against Croatia in overtime sent the Aussies into the gold medal play off against the undefeated Slovenians! Unfortunately

the Aussies went down 10-5 but what an achievement to come away with the Silver Medal for Australia.

Like A ReD RAG to a bull

“I was blown away by the support from everyone at work and our clients.

“The monies raised not only helped me get to the Championships, it assisted others within the team to get there too”.

Jordan Gavin Meyer Vandenberg


SO whO fORMED mEYER VAnDEnbeRg’S COMMUnITy engAgemeNT COMMIttEE thiS yeAR?Meyer Vandenberg has a devoted team of philanthropic, justice-focused and environmental enthusiasts who keep the wheels turning on the firm’s community contributions. So who formed Meyer Vandenberg’s Community Engagement Committee this year?

Stephanie Lynch – One of the Committee’s two pro bono partners, Steph liaises with our key community partners including YWCA Canberra and UN Women. Steph leads the Meyer Vandenberg Property Projects team, she is a big supporter of Basketball ACT being instrumental in the move of the Canberra Capitals to the University of Canberra, and was a Capitals player before embarking on her legal career.

Geoff Adams – A pro bono supporter from way back, Geoff leads our Government team and has a wealth of experience in coordinating community programs and managing the delicate business of pro bono contributions, as well as being a dab hand in the kitchen donating fresh, free range eggs and various homemade treats throughout the year.

Tanya Berlis – As well as being our Practice Manager, Tanya was one of the founding

members of the Committee. She has been a vocal supporter of a number of community initiatives in recent years including developing the firm’s relationship with LEAD, a local community organisation that provides supported employment to people with disabilities. Tanya’s drive and determination this year was exemplified by her support offered in assisting one of our own, Jordan Gavin, captain of the Australian Senior Inline Hockey team, in his fundraising efforts to attend the international inline championships held in the Czech Republic.

Susan Blain – Susan joined the Committee in early 2014. She is the firm’s Business Development Manager. Susan brings to the committee the benefit of her expertise in fundraising having worked in the not-for-profit industry for almost 7 years. Susan is instrumental in maintaining communications with the charity throughout the year, as well

as being responsible for the production of the Community Engagement Report.

Charmaine Gill – A tireless volunteer and contributor to the firm’s fundraising events, Charmaine been instrumental in coordinating fundraising through mufti days, pay week raffles and floor events. Charmaine’s contributions keep the Committee organised, and she can rally around a cause like no one else. Presently the Chair of our Committee, Charmaine is the first point of contact for our pro bono referrals and MVironment requirements whilst working as a Paralegal in our Dispute Resolution Team.

Justine Harper – Justine dutifully served as the well-organised Chair of our Committee for the better part of 2013/14 keeping all of us in check and leading by example before taking maternity leave. Working as a Senior Lawyer in the Dispute Resolution Team,

LeADERs oF tHe PaCk


she is determined to demonstrate that you can do it all – cutthroat legal advice and a compassionate and caring heart.

Eleanor Heffernan – Ellie is our chosen charity champion and in the short time she has been on the Committee, she has coordinated a number of internal fundraising and external volunteering events, and is the RSPCA’s biggest fan. Ellie combines enthusiasm with undertones of guilt to ensure we get all members of the staff involved at every opportunity. Eleanor is a Paralegal in the Dispute Resolution Team whilst completing her post-graduate study.

Kim Moore – Before jetting off to practice overseas, Kim did the impossible, coordinating the firm’s pro bono enquiries and acting as a go-between with the ACT Law Society and the firm’s other pro bono connections whilst working as an Associate in our Construction Dispute Resolution team. Kim was also our reporting guru – making sure fee earners were recognised for outstanding contributions to our pro bono matters. Kim departed Oz during the year for Hong Kong and remains a loyal supporter of our firm and its community engagement from afar.

John Morrissey – An Irish native, John was a regular attendee at the Night Time Legal Advice Service and is the go-to when it comes to pro bono commercial advice. John coordinated our internal events, and made sure our staff had ample opportunities to

raise much needed funds for the RSPCA. John is an Associate in the Banking and Finance Team at Meyer Vandenberg.

Arthur Pattison – ‘The Numbers Guy’, Arthur hit the ground running at MV by jumping straight into both his legal career and his role on the community engagement committee. We have put his project management skills to quick use, and Arthur now manages both our internal and Commonwealth probono reporting requirements, ensuring that staff are recognised for their outstanding contributions to the Community.

Tessa Dignam – “Captain Environment” headed up our MVironment Sub-Committee; monitoring our ACTSmart compliance and ensured the firm was kept up-to-date on all things waste management, as well as being one of two lawyers to complete a secondment with the Pro Bono Clearing House at the ACT Law Society.

Georgina Philpott – The most recent asset to the Committee, Georgie was quick to offer her assistance upon commencing with the firm. Her thoughtful approach has been greatly valued by the Committee and we look forward to sending plenty more requests her way in the future. Georgie joins Meyer Vandenberg as a Senior Lawyer in our Dispute Resolution Team.

On behalf of the Partners I would like to thank all of those involved in the work of the Community Engagement Committee in 2013/14 – your contributions do not go unnoticed! We have a phenomenal bunch of people (new and old) leading our firm into 2014/15 and we cannot wait to get the firm more involved in the Canberra community into the future.

Archie Tsirimokos Meyer Vandenberg
