Careers

It was the culture of the firm that encouraged him to first join, and then also wooed him back after a stint at a national firm where he honed his passion for property stream leasing.

"Everything is transparent, there are no hidden agendas and you can and do trust your colleagues."

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During Australia's "recession we had to have" in 1990 and subsequent property downturn, Michael switched to litigation law where he experienced the scariest day of his professional life fronting the High Court of Australia as junior counsel in an appeal - which his team won.

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"I'm a property lawyer who's wigged and gowned for the High Court," he now laughs.

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Michael is currently a leader in TG Legal + Technology's high volume leasing practice, servicing the leasing needs for landlords and tenants with property footprints across the country. Clients include financial institutions, telcos, retail chains and shopping centre and commercial property owners.

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It's a practice area that demands attention to detail, accuracy, quick turnaround times and the ability to master significant volumes of documentation.

He says the key to being a successful property lawyer is serving the needs of clients and meeting their expectations.

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"Anyone can be a good lawyer but service is what clients want," he says. "That's our mantra."

"There's never a day I don't feel challenged in my role," he says.

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"Whether it's a particularly complex or sensitive matter or a need to help service a client in challenging times, it's a field with plenty of scope to develop and grow as a lawyer."

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Chris, who leads the TG Legal + Technology workplace and insurance services team, began his legal career representing plaintiffs in personal injury claims.

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He finds the insights he gained during this time to have assisted in achieving beneficial outcomes for his employer and statutory authority clients

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Chris says when he entered this area of law he quickly realised it suited him and his skill set.

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He and the team bring strong analytical skills and an ability to quickly understand the facts surrounding a claim to decide on the right approach to reach a desired outcome.

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"You need to know when a case needs to run and when it needs to settle. Having strong instincts and being able to back your judgement on strategy are also important," he says.

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Chris strongly emphasises the importance of providing high quality service to clients.

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He says the team delivers for clients by being highly organised, efficient and timely in responding to their needs.

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"You're often dealing with people who are at vulnerable or difficult stages of their lives," she says.

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"On top of that, the work we do carries enormous regulatory and reputational risk for our clients, so it's critical we get it right."

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Nora says she finds it personally rewarding achieving outcomes that do not involve protracted litigation.

Nora started out in commercial litigation and recoveries with a small firm before joining Dentons, where she worked for a number of years before joining Kemp Strang and becoming part of Thomson Geer following its acquisition of Kemp Strang.

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She says joining Thomson Geer has been incredibly rewarding, and the firm's support and culture and have bolstered the opportunities for the national Resolutions, Recoveries and Disputes practice.

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Nora now leads a large team and represents three of Australia's big four banks. She and the team work closely with major institutions to help them with their needs in what is a highly regulated and constantly evolving sector.

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"To do this kind of work, you need to be passionate, empathetic, organised, and deeply understand the needs of institutional clients," she says.

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‍"It's challenging but very rewarding work."

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