Cooper Grace Ward starts the year with three promotions

Queensland law firm, Cooper Grace Ward is pleased to start the year with three team members being promoted to more senior roles.

The firm’s newly promoted team members include Mali Karunaratne from the litigation and dispute resolution practice, Michael Donnelly from the property team and Megan Pool from the workplace relations and safety practice.

Mali Karunaratne has been promoted to special counsel and is an experienced commercial dispute resolution lawyer, with particular expertise in insolvency matters and regulatory investigations. Mali has represented clients in the successful resolution of a range of complex and large disputes. As well as having worked in the litigation and dispute resolution group in law firms in Sydney and Brisbane, Mali has worked in a ‘Big 4’ global accounting firm, and as an in-house lawyer in a large business group in South East Asia.

Michael Donnelly has been promoted to senior associate and specialises in large-scale acquisitions and disposals, property development, business sales, commercial and retail leasing, and technical property advice work. In addition to his property expertise, Michael also has broad experience in the fields of insurance, litigation, dispute resolution, personal injury, franchising and commercial law, and had the opportunity to complete a secondment with one of the largest general insurers in Australia, focusing on property disputes.

Megan Pool has been promoted to associate and is a specialist in the workplace relations and safety practice. Megan advises a range of clients across various industries on issues such as unlawful discrimination, sexual harassment, employment contracts, restraint of trade provisions, and award and enterprise agreement applicability and provisions. Megan has extensive litigation experience across various jurisdictions, and is experienced in defending general protections claims, industrial disputes, bullying claims, unfair and unlawful dismissal claims, workplace health and safety, discrimination and harassment matters.

Managing partner Chris Ward was pleased to announce the first round of promotions for 2021 and highlighted the team members’ dedication and service to their clients, especially during the turmoil of the past 12 months.

“Mali, Michael and Megan are highly capable lawyers who have gone above and beyond with their service to clients in a year which brought some significant challenges. I want to highlight the contribution that each of these team members have made to Cooper Grace Ward and their promotions are very well deserved.”