Former Head of KPMG Law, Kate Marshall, joins Law Squared as new Chief Legal Officer
Kate will work alongside Founder + Director, Demetrio Zema, and Chief Operating Officer, Trent Milvain, to lead the firm’s next phase of growth
Kate joins the global leading Human Centred Law firm with over 25 years of legal Partnership experience across KPMG, Clayton Utz and K+L Gates. Kate’s impressive track record includes developing innovative client service offerings, creating diverse and high performing teams, and importantly, influencing strategic growth.Under the new leadership structure, Demetrio will continue to lead the firm as Director and CEO, supported by Kate who will oversee management of the firm’s legal practice groups: Corporate + Commercial, Privacy + Cyber, Employment + Workplace Relations, Disputes + Litigation and Digital + Innovation.
Having founded and led the firm’s growth since 2016, the appointment of a CLO was a critical and highly personal one for Demetrio, who said: “I founded Law Squared with the ambitious mission to change the legal profession for the better. It was imperative that we find a CLO who would not only bring extensive leadership and legal skills but be aligned with my vision to create change. In Kate, we have found the perfect person.”
After leading the legal practice for one of Australia’s Big Four consultancies, Kate arrives in the role of CLO after six months career break spending time with family and travelling. Kate’s job selection criteria were remarkably simple: “I want to work with good people, play an active role in driving innovation and change, and influence the strategic direction of the business. She says: “I have been aware of Law Squared for some time and am enormously impressed by the firm’s success in building a true alternative to traditional law firms for in-house counsel and business leaders to consider.”
Speaking on the firm’s mission and vision, Kate says: “I believe there are better ways to provide legal services, yet few firms have moved the needle on innovation, lawyer wellbeing, or true client centricity. Removing time as a metric of billing and performance, along with the traditional hierarchy structures, Law Squared has forged a unique business model and vision that I am wholeheartedly aligned with.”
It is a view echoed by Law Squared Advisory Board Chair, Nino Ficca, who said: “Demetrio has done a tremendous job building an exceptional team and a culture unlike any other law firm. As an Advisory Board, we believe now is the right time to bring in another experienced operator with sage commercial judgment, and a shared vision. We are confident in Kate’s ability to have a positive impact on Law Squared, our people, our clients and on the profession more broadly.”
Kate’s appointment comes on the back of several other significant developments for the firm, including the appointment of former Wotton + Kearney Cyber + Insurance Partner, Mark Anderson, to spearhead the launch of a dedicated Privacy + Cyber practice group, as well as the firm’s New Zealand expansion.