People
Sara
Mariniello
Senior Associate
t: +61 2 9260 2464+61 2 9260 2464
o: Sydney
Senior Associate
t: +61 2 9260 2464+61 2 9260 2464
o: Sydney


Sara is a highly experienced insurance litigator with over eight years of experience in CTP Insurance and Personal Injury Law. She focuses on providing practical and cost-effective strategies to deliver exceptional results for her clients.
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Stuart
Marris
Partner
t: +61 2 6263 6301+61 2 6263 6301
m: +61 404 828 285+61 404 828 285
o: Canberra
Partner
t: +61 2 6263 6301+61 2 6263 6301
m: +61 404 828 285+61 404 828 285
o: Canberra


Stuart concentrates on Commonwealth statutory classes of insurance and administrative law. He is one of the firm's most experienced practitioners in these areas and has advised Commonwealth agencies on a range of issues regarding their statutory functions. He has represented clients in proceedings in the Administrative Review Tribunal and Federal Court at the Commonwealth level, as well as in various local and state courts.
Stuart is currently seconded part-time to a Commonwealth Government department to provide advice on statutory interpretation and related administrative law issues.
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John
Martin
Non-Executive Director
o: Sydney
Non-Executive Director
o: Sydney


John brings a fresh perspective and energy to the Board with a view to enhancing Sparke Helmore's growth strategy and maximising opportunities for the firm in a rapidly evolving legal services market.
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Vanessa
Maruna
Partner
t: +61 7 3001 9204+61 7 3001 9204
m: +61 413 000 475+61 413 000 475
o: Cairns
Partner
t: +61 7 3001 9204+61 7 3001 9204
m: +61 413 000 475+61 413 000 475
o: Cairns


Vanessa holds dual qualifications in law and town planning, making her uniquely placed to assist her clients navigate the planning and environment and compulsory acquisition regulatory frameworks across Queensland. Vanessa has worked on large-scale master planning projects, waste facilities, renewable energy projects, represented local government and government-owned corporations, and provided advice to major developers, mining companies, publicly listed companies, and private entities. Her expertise lies in urban development, renewables, infrastructure, waste, compulsory acquisition and environmental approvals, compliance and enforcement.
In addition to her professional achievements, Vanessa also holds community and business leadership roles. She serves as Director and Deputy Chair of the Cairns Organisation United for Cancer Health, and is a former Deputy Chair of Port North and former Chair of JUTE Theatre Company. Vanessa is also a regular presenter for the Queensland Environmental Law Association, the Planning Institute of Australia, Advance Cairns, and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
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Jehan
Mata
Partner
t: +61 3 9291 2374+61 3 9291 2374
m: +61 403 373 159+61 403 373 159
o: Melbourne
Partner
t: +61 3 9291 2374+61 3 9291 2374
m: +61 403 373 159+61 403 373 159
o: Melbourne


Jehan is an experienced insurance litigator with a strong background in professional indemnity, professional negligence, casualty line and health law claims. She is passionate about health law, medical and professional ethics, legislative and contractual interpretation and works with insurers and corporations on a wide range of general liability claims.
Jehan also provides coverage advice to insurers and pursues recovery actions for first party property losses. She is known for her clear and succinct advice, strong negotiation skills and highly strategic and proactive approach to dispute resolution.
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Kelly
Matheson
Special Counsel
t: +61 2 6263 6309+61 2 6263 6309
m: +61 456 389 715+61 456 389 715
o: Canberra
Special Counsel
t: +61 2 6263 6309+61 2 6263 6309
m: +61 456 389 715+61 456 389 715
o: Canberra


Kelly joined Sparke Helmore in 2024 bringing eight years’ experience as a government lawyer specialising in privacy and secrecy law. Her expertise lies in working on complex digital projects supporting her clients to deliver solutions which place privacy at the centre.
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Scott
McDonald
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2512+61 2 9260 2512
m: +61 412 868 331+61 412 868 331
o: Sydney
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2512+61 2 9260 2512
m: +61 412 868 331+61 412 868 331
o: Sydney


Scott McDonald has more than 30 years' commercial litigation experience. He works on complex commercial disputes, competition law litigation, alternative dispute resolution, bankruptcy and insolvency. He also practises in the emerging field of international commercial arbitration with a particular focus on cross-border trade disputes.
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Nell
McGill
Partner
t: +61 2 4924 7619+61 2 4924 7619
o: Newcastle
Partner
t: +61 2 4924 7619+61 2 4924 7619
o: Newcastle


Nell is a senior dispute resolution and insolvency lawyer. She has a particular focus on contentious personal and corporate insolvency matters, as well as director and shareholder disputes, and debt recovery litigation.
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Julian
McGrath
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2527+61 2 9260 2527
m: +61 412 676 473+61 412 676 473
o: Sydney
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2527+61 2 9260 2527
m: +61 412 676 473+61 412 676 473
o: Sydney


Julian, who is named on the Best Lawyers in Australia list, has more than 26 years' experience in insurance law and expertise in casualty, liability, construction risk and products liability.
Julian is also recommended as a Leading Professional Indemnity Lawyer in NSW in the 2017 Doyle's Guide.
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Patrick
McGrath
Partner
t: +61 3 9291 2369+61 3 9291 2369
m: +61 411 756 511+61 411 756 511
o: Melbourne
Partner
t: +61 3 9291 2369+61 3 9291 2369
m: +61 411 756 511+61 411 756 511
o: Melbourne


Patrick is a highly experienced insurance lawyer and litigator who helps insurers, underwriters and insureds to resolve claims across a broad range of products. His clients rate his combination of construction, engineering and financial services knowledge, practical legal solutions and commercial acumen.
For the last three years Patrick has been included in the Australian Financial Review's Best Lawyers list in the Insurance category.
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Lauren
McHugh
Partner
t: +61 8 8415 9830+61 8 8415 9830
m: +61 409 113 506+61 409 113 506
o: Adelaide
Partner
t: +61 8 8415 9830+61 8 8415 9830
m: +61 409 113 506+61 409 113 506
o: Adelaide


Lauren has worked in the insurance industry for over 12 years and specialises in CTP, public liability, health (predominately medical negligence) and historical abuse insurance claims.
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Alan
McKelvey
Partner
t: +61 2 4924 7309+61 2 4924 7309
m: +61 410 459 853+61 410 459 853
o: Newcastle
Partner
t: +61 2 4924 7309+61 2 4924 7309
m: +61 410 459 853+61 410 459 853
o: Newcastle


Alan specialises in NSW planning, environment and mining law and has extensive litigation experience, particularly in the NSW Land and Environment Court.
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Emily
McKeowen
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2404+61 2 9260 2404
m: +61 425 316 554+61 425 316 554
o: Sydney
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2404+61 2 9260 2404
m: +61 425 316 554+61 425 316 554
o: Sydney


Emily is a highly regarded insurance litigator with 20 years of experience in general liability claims (personal injury, property damage and product liability). Emily is recognised for her pragmatic, proactive, commercial and technical approach to claims management and client solutions.
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Daria
McLachlan
Special Counsel
t: +61 8 8415 9876+61 8 8415 9876
m: +61 427 817 081+61 427 817 081
o: Adelaide
Special Counsel
t: +61 8 8415 9876+61 8 8415 9876
m: +61 427 817 081+61 427 817 081
o: Adelaide


Daria is an employment and work health and safety (WHS) lawyer. In her seven years of practice, she has achieved significant outcomes for clients in state and federal jurisdictions including defending unfair dismissals, assisting clients facing safety prosecutions and settling discrimination claims negating the need for trial.
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Yvette
McLaughlin
Partner
t: +61 7 3016 5072+61 7 3016 5072
m: +61 410 280 219+61 410 280 219
o: Brisbane
Partner
t: +61 7 3016 5072+61 7 3016 5072
m: +61 410 280 219+61 410 280 219
o: Brisbane


Yvette is an Accredited Specialist in Personal Injury Law with more than 26 years' experience in the insurance industry. She has practised predominantly in defending statutory classes, common law and general insurance claims since 1996. She regularly advises on liability, quantum and indemnity issues. Yvette’s extensive experience across complementary disciplines allows her to bring a balanced approach to managing major incidents and catastrophic injury claims.
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Elisa
McLennan
Special Counsel
t: +61 8 9288 8053+61 8 9288 8053
m: +61 419 128 808+61 419 128 808
o: Perth
Special Counsel
t: +61 8 9288 8053+61 8 9288 8053
m: +61 419 128 808+61 419 128 808
o: Perth


Elisa is an insurance law practitioner and litigator, with experience across several lines of insurance, including workers' compensation, general and product liability, and property.
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Janette
McLennan
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2803+61 2 9260 2803
m: +61 408 751 683+61 408 751 683
o: Sydney
Partner
t: +61 2 9260 2803+61 2 9260 2803
m: +61 408 751 683+61 408 751 683
o: Sydney


Janette is a commercial litigator specialising in complex multi-party commercial disputes, director and officer (D&O) claims, class actions, reputation management, regulatory matters and commercial insurance/reinsurance claims (including monitoring and contested coverage disputes).
She is recognised by Best Lawyers in Australia as a leading litigation lawyer 2019-2023 and a class action litigation lawyer 2022-2023. She is also recommended by Legal 500 in Insurance, Class Actions and Litigation.
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Rebecca
McMahon
Senior Associate
t: +61 2 6542 4014+61 2 6542 4014
o: Upper Hunter
Senior Associate
t: +61 2 6542 4014+61 2 6542 4014
o: Upper Hunter


Rebecca is a property lawyer with extensive experience in renewable energy, mining and resources, agribusiness and large scale land and water rural transactions. Rebecca has been admitted to practice for over a decade and brings with her international legal experience from a top tier international firm in London.
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