Described as “empathetic and globally connected” and as a diversity champion, Anne-Marie Allgrove has been appointed National Managing Partner at the international law firm, Baker McKenzie.
Now based in Sydney and with over 28 years of experience with the firm, Allgrove is currently the Global Chair of the Intellectual Property and Technology Practice Group, Chair of the Inclusion & Diversity Committee (Australia), member of the Global Firm’s Finance Committee and long-term member of the Australian Management Committee.
She’s also been recognised in Chambers as a leading individual and was named Best Lawyer of the Year for Privacy and Data Security in 2022 (The Best Lawyers in Australia), as well as Leading Individual for TMT: IT and Telecoms from 2012 to 2022 and Hall of Fame for 2022 (Legal 500).
Allgrove says she’s honoured to be stepping into her new position as National Managing Partner and is excited for “what the future holds” as she works to ensure that others have the same “opportunities and successes” that she’s been afforded.
“Hopefully my appointment (and the recent appointment of other women to senior leadership roles in the legal profession) further contributes to normalising the advancement of women to senior leadership positions,” she says.
“Whilst the first of something is of course notable, I look forward to a time when the gender of our leaders is completely unremarkable. That said, we have a long way to go and if my appointment helps to demonstrate what’s possible for women in our Firm, or elsewhere, I am pleased.”
Since first joining Baker McKenzie as a Summer Clerk, Allgrove has worked in its offices in London, Paris, Singapore and Sydney.
Across her many years with the firm, she’s worked closely with large local and global clients and will step into her new role of National Managing Partner for a 4-year term on July 1, 2023.
Allgrove will replace the current National Managing Partner, Anthony Foley whose support she says she’s grateful for.
“Anthony has taken our Firm forward in great strides,” says Allgrove. “Under his calm and considered leadership over the last six years, we have navigated a global pandemic, assembled and grown a first class group of lawyers and enjoyed multiple years of record revenue growth.”
“On a personal level, I have worked for many years with Anthony and am grateful for his ongoing support.”
Foley has high-praise for Allgrove as well, saying that she “exemplifies the best of Baker McKenzie” and that he’s “confident she will continue our growth and impact in the Australian market in years to come”.
“After growing up in different parts of the world and serving as an associate on the High Court of Australia, Anne-Marie joined us as a graduate and through her extraordinary talent, commercial acumen and hard work, she has become recognised by clients and the market as a leading lawyer in IP, data and technology,” says Foley
Commending her leadership further, he adds that Allgrove is “a globally connected, empathic, and inspiring leader” as well as “a pioneer in championing inclusion and diversity in our firm and communities”.
Proud of the firm she’s been with for so long, Allgrove says that Baker McKenzie “has a unique offering in the market supporting our local and global clients on their most significant projects leveraging the strength of our practice and industry specialists and our global platform.”
“I look forward to working with our people and clients to continue to support their (and the Firm’s) growth and success in an ever changing market.”