The Partners of Hicksons are very pleased to announce the appointments of a new Partner and five Associates, effective 1 July 2011.

Chris Moore, formerly a Special Counsel in the firm’s Commercial Dispute Resolution team, has been promoted to Partner. The five Associates announced are Jennifer Parkes, Najeh Marhaba, Patrick Pilton, Paula Newton and Scott Stierli. 

Hicksons Managing Partner John Markos said “…I am delighted with this series of promotions. It is the biggest intake we have had for some time. I am pleased to welcome Chris to the partnership, and the others as associates. Each of these lawyers illustrates the focus of all Hicksons lawyers in going beyond baseline expectations and service levels.”

Chris Moore is a commercial litigator who has practiced in insurance law and commercial litigation for over 25 years, including seven years as a barrister. He has undertaken work for insurer defendants and corporate plaintiffs in all aspects of general insurance (product and professional liability, together with directors and officers, ISR and life and insurance claims) and reinsurance claims. Chris’ commercial litigation experience includes IP and IT disputes, property, securities and complex multi-party commercial disputes.

Chris commenced with Hicksons in November 2009 in the role of Special Counsel. In addition to his seven years at the Bar, Chris spent a total of 17 years with two major national Australian law firms prior to joining Hicksons. He holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Securities Institute of Australia Certificate, and was admitted as a solicitor in December 1988.

Jennifer Parkes is an insurance lawyer in our Newcastle office. She has over seven years experience of insurance in the workplace for insurers and statutory fund managers. She deals with a variety of employers, in a range of industries particularly in the rural and business sectors. Jennifer has an excellent technical knowledge of the legislative and strategic demands of claims management and workplace law (particularly in the higher education sector).

Jennifer, who holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Newcastle and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New England, commenced with the firm in September 2006.

Najeh Marhaba is an insurance lawyer and has nine years experience. He manages complex matters for insurers and statutory fund managers, government agencies and large employer clients in the area of insurance in the workplace. Najeh works with clients on matters involving multiple parties that include dual insurance issues. 

Najeh, who holds a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Sydney, commenced with Hicksons in June 2010.

Patrick Pilton is a lawyer in our Property and Finance team. He provides advice to clients on various aspects of property law including: sale and purchase of property including preparing contracts and advising on negotiations; commercial and retail leasing; strata title developments and management issues; financial transactions including loan agreements, mortgages and collateral securities; and general property advice.

Patrick, who holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney and a Master of Laws from the University of Technology, Sydney, commenced with the firm in December 2006

Paula Newton is a lawyer in our Commercial Dispute Resolution team. She has nine years legal experience. Prior to Hicksons, Paula was in-house legal counsel for a mortgage services provider. She concentrated on mortgage transactions that involved the entire process from loan agreement to settlement. During her time at Hicksons, Paula has been on secondment to a lenders mortgage insurer. Paula’s focus at Hicksons has been valuer recovery, mortgage recovery and general insurance advice.

Paula, who holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Technology, Sydney, commenced with the firm in October 2010.

Scott Stierli is a lawyer in our Commercial Dispute Resolution team who specialises in Mortgage Enforcement and related disputes. Scott works on a range of complex defended litigation, including matters involving fraud, Contracts Review Act claims, deceased estates and commercial disputes. He also has carriage of a large volume of undefended recovery proceedings, particularly mortgage enforcement cases on behalf of a number of lenders.

Scott, who holds a Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Sydney, commenced with the firm in October 2007.

The Partners of Hicksons congratulate Chris, Jennifer, Najeh, Patrick, Paula and Scott on their promotions.

For further information please contact:

Chris Moore This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or +61 2 9293 5475

Jennifer Parkes This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or +61 2 4907 5600

Najeh Marhaba This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or +61 2 9293 5496

Patrick Pilton This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or +61 2 9293 5492

Paula Newton This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or +61 2 9293 5488

Scott Stierli This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or +61 2 9293 5341