Law firm Gilbert + Tobin has unveiled its new leadership team, with two partners to take the helm following co-founder Danny Gilbert’s decision to step down from his role as managing partner.
According to a succession plan announced Thursday, current chief operating officer Sam Nickless will take on the role of chief executive officer, while board member Tim Gordon will become the firm’s executive partner in addition to his duties as partner in the firm’s corporate advisory practice.
Gilbert said he was “very pleased with the outcome the partnership has reached”.
“Tim has been with G+T since he was a junior lawyer and lives and breathes our culture,” he said. “He will bring new and fresh perspectives from the coalface as a leading corporate partner to our leadership team.
“Sam and I have worked together closely in the management of the firm every day since he joined G+T in 2015. This new model, together with the many highly talented partners we have in the firm, will serve us very well.”
The changes will take effect from July 2023, as Gilbert transitions to chairman.
Current chairman and veteran partner Bill Spain, who has been with G+T since 1991, will continue as chair of the firm’s remuneration committee.
Gordon and Nickless were made partners at the firm in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Nickless previously served in executive roles at workplace management platform LiquidSpace, property group GPT, and gaming company Aristocrat. He started his career at McKinsey.
Gilbert announced his plan to step down in March, in a video message to staff where he said he had “been in the trenches every day” for the last 30 years and it was time for him to change his role.
“I have been considering my role and the future leadership of G+T for a while now,” Gilbert said.
“I recognise that it is time to further open up the leadership to others and to establish the settings for more leadership roles. I want to do this because the firm needs to be looking at the next generation of leadership.
“I want to work with this leadership.”
Gilbert said he would continue to work full time in his new role as chairman and be part of the firm’s leadership.
His new position would involve working with the managing partner on the “strategic direction” of G+T, bringing in new partner talent, managing client relationships and promoting the firm in the market.
Gilbert said he wanted to “be on top” of changes that would drive the legal market and corporate activity over the next 10 to 20 years.
“There is much to be achieved as new industries emerge around decarbonisation, climate change, new manufacturing, AI and the like,” said Gilbert.
“G+T must be at the forefront of all those changes.”
Gilbert co-founded the firm with Tony Tobin in January 1988 and in addition to his managing partner role, he acts as the director of the Business Council of Australia, director of Impact Investing Australia Limited and is a member on a public law advisory committee at the University of New South Wales.
Until recently, Gilbert has been a member of the Social Impact Investing Taskforce Expert Panel, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. He has also held positions as non-executive director at the National Australia Bank, chairman at the National Museum of Australia and of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW.
In June 2005, Gilbert was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the law and community.
Gilbert + Tobin has over 90 partners, 430 lawyers and a total staff of 900 in Australia, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.
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