Gillian Sheppard becomes the firm’s 46th principal, maintaining a key target
Eighteen have been promoted at Barry Nilsson as 2026 dawns, including a new principal, a special counsel, 2 senior associates and 11 associates.
Gillian Sheppard becomes the firm’s 46th principal, maintaining the firm’s target of having women comprise 40% of its leaders. She operates in the insurance and health space.
She concentrates on professional indemnity and policy coverage. She has defended professional negligence claims and complaints made against professionals to tribunals and registration boards.
Sheppard has represented insurers working with solicitors, building and construction professionals, medical professionals, educational institutions and financial advisers. She first joined Barry Nilsson in 2003 and works from the Brisbane office.
Felix Kalade is the firm’s newest special counsel. Like Sheppard, he operates in the insurance space and practises from Brisbane.
Barry Nilsson welcomed Thomas Klepper and Ysabelle Kong to the senior associate ranks in Melbourne. Both focus on insurance matters.
The firm’s new associates are as follows:
Barry Nilsson also named Ciara Popplewell and Patricia Nguyen as P&C coordinators in Brisbane and Melbourne, respectively. Margaret Harvison has been appointed events manager in Brisbane.
The promotions took effect on 1 January.
