Independent Australian law firm Lander & Rogers announced today that Genevieve Collins has been appointed as the firm’s new Chief Executive Partner (CEP).
Genevieve’s appointment comes in the midst of unprecedented evolution and growth for the firm across Australia.
No stranger to leadership roles, Genevieve is currently Chair of the Board, and leads the firm's innovation and wellness agendas. She is also the head of Landers’ market-leading Compensation Law practice, and the client relationship partner for WorkSafe Victoria, one of the firm’s longest-standing clients, and one of the most innovative procurers and managers of litigious legal services in the state.
When she commences as CEP on 1 July this year, Genevieve will step down from her head of practice role in order to focus fully on driving the firm in evolving its approach to delivering legal services of the future.
Genevieve will take over the reins from current CEP, Andrew Willder, who has successfully led the firm since 2009, including through some of the most difficult and challenging economic times in Australia’s corporate history. During his time in the role Andrew has driven the firm's strategic direction, commandeering key initiatives and programs including, the significant expansion of the firm's Sydney presence and offering, and the growth of the firm's Corporate, Employment, and Family & Relationship Law practices nationally, and the opening of the firm’s Brisbane office in 2014.
Andrew was responsible for developing and launching the firm’s contemporary 2020 strategy in 2016, which included a redefining focus on key sectors and new Working Smarter and Great Place to Work pillars. He has also overseen the implementation of a number of innovative projects which see the firm poised to further advance its innovation agenda and its approach to delivering legal services of the future. Over the past nine years, the firm has seen significant and profitable organic growth.
Lander & Rogers’ brand and market position has also advanced substantially under Andrew’s custody, with the firm recently being named Best Law Firm (revenue $50m - $200m) at The Financial Review Client Choice Awards 2018. This is the ninth time in the last 10 years that the firm has been nominated as a finalist and/or winner in the Client Choice Awards.
Andrew is a real estate law expert with over 30 years' experience in major commercial and retail property projects. He joined Lander & Rogers in 1992 and headed the firm’s national Real Estate & Projects group until 2014. He will relocate from Melbourne to Sydney in the second half of the year to move back into the Real Estate & Projects group in a senior leadership role in the Sydney office, to help drive growth in the NSW market.
In discussing the leadership change, Andrew commented on Genevieve’s track record as an inspirational leader and her reputation for delivering brilliant client solutions through innovation.
He went on to say, “Genevieve has a tenacious passion for cultivating innovation in client service delivery and enhancing the client experience. She is a forward-thinking and inspiring person, and I have every confidence that she will lead our firm with an assured hand and with the respect and full support of the partnership and our clients.”
Genevieve said she was invigorated and excited about the opportunity to step into the role of CEP for the firm, and commended Andrew for his exceptional stewardship over the past nine years.
“Our firm is in excellent and very strong financial shape; we have Andrew to thank for his vision and leadership, for his unwavering focus on enhancing the client experience, and for the way in which he has encouraged us all to embrace innovation and technology to drive change and bring opportunities for our firm, our people and our clients.
“Andrew is also to be commended for fostering a firm culture that provides a great place to work for our people — a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can be their true selves and can thrive both personally and professionally.
"My focus moving forwards is to drive our rich innovation agenda, which builds on our existing client-centric culture. As part of this agenda, I am delighted to announce the launch of our firm's Client Innovation Hub. The Hub will support clients by working collaboratively with them and a range of relevant experts including lawyers, design thinkers and tech creators to drive ongoing improvements in delivering client value," she went on to say.
“I am looking forward to bringing my passion for innovation in service delivery to bear, and to working with all my colleagues across the firm to continue to drive our vision”.
