Baker & McKenzie announced today that Christopher Freeland has been elected the new National Managing Partner of the Firm’s Australian offices. Chris will be joining Baker & McKenzie on 2 August 2010 from Gilbert + Tobin, where he was a partner and Chief Operating Officer. Chris will succeed Mark Chapple, who has held the position since September 2005. Mark Chapple will remain a partner at the Firm.
Chris Freeland brings to Baker & McKenzie considerable experience in professional service firm management and strategy, and an excellent track record in delivering operational excellence. His recent roles have included a period in Beijing advising one of China’s leading law firms, King & Wood, and consulting and senior management positions with The Boston Consulting Group in Australia and New York. Chris holds a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Monash University and a Master of Business Administration, having studied at Melbourne and Columbia Business Schools. He has also completed the Leading Professional Services Firms Executive Program at Harvard Business School.
John Conroy, Baker & McKenzie’s Chairman of the Executive Committee, said, “We are very pleased that Chris is bringing his considerable talents to join our Australian team. For nearly fifty years, the Australian offices have been, and continue to be, very successful in driving growth and innovation within our Firm. We welcome the opportunity to continue to develop our provision of strategic and valued legal advice to our clients in Australia and across the globe with Chris’ insight and skills.”
Bruce Hambrett, Chairman of Baker & McKenzie’s Australian offices, said, “Mark Chapple has done a tremendous job over the past four years in consolidating Baker & McKenzie’s position as the leading global law firm in the Australian market. We are delighted that Chris is now joining Baker & McKenzie in this very important role. The international experience that Chris brings matches the global perspective from which we view and consider our strategic opportunities.”
Chris’ current external positions include Chair of the Sydney Film Festival, Executive Member of LawAsia Management Section and, until recently, Vice-President of Melbourne Business School’s Alumni Council. Chris is a regular speaker at seminars and conferences.
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