The new Brisbane office manager discusses how working in-house changed the way she practised law
Last month, Jones Day began its 2026 strong by appointing a new cohort of leaders for its Australian offices. With John Cooper taking over the Sydney office, litigation partner Annie Leeks stepped in to lead the firm’s Brisbane office.
In this interview, Leeks shared with Australasian Lawyer her top three priorities for Jones Day’s Brisbane branch and defines what leadership means to her.
How did you react when you learned that you would be succeeding John Cooper as the Brisbane office managing partner?
I was delighted! We have a fantastic group of lawyers and staff in the Brisbane office, and I see my role as creating conditions to enable each of them to succeed and find fulfilment in their work. I take this responsibility very seriously and want to do all I can to meet that challenge.
Was this a role you had been actively working towards, or did your appointment come as a surprise?
The firm has been incredibly supportive providing leadership opportunities for me, and enabling me to work closely with some of the most significant leaders within the firm to hone my leadership skills, including working directly with now Managing Partner Greg Shumaker when he was practice leader for global disputes, Sion Richards in London who became leader of that practice, and partner-in-charge of Australia Chris Lovrien, so I was aware that the firm expected me to continue assuming leadership positions.
You’ve been in the role for over a month now – what has been the biggest adjustment for you?
The biggest adjustment has been the additional administrative work that comes with running an office and seeking to balance that work with an active client practice.
What are your top three priorities for the Brisbane office?
The first priority for every Jones Day office is client service, so I am focused primarily on creating conditions to ensure that all of our lawyers can focus on doing excellent work for firm clients. My second priority is ensuring that the Brisbane office continues to be fully integrated within the global firm, and that we develop and strengthen connections with our colleagues around the firm. My third priority is to grow the office through strategic recruitment and promoting up from the ranks partners from within.
You held a senior in-house role previously – how has your in-house experience informed your work in private practice?
Working in house transformed the way I practice law. It provided invaluable insight into what clients really need, and the importance of making your immediate client look good to their stakeholders within the particular organisation. I also know the right questions to ask to figure out what clients really need to solve their problems.
What’s something you picked up as a practitioner that you’ve been able to apply or think you could apply to a leadership role?
Ultimately, leadership is about service to our people. This culture of service is one of Jones Day’s core values and is a core part of the way we practice of law, particularly in terms of client service, but also in terms of how we treat each other within the firm. It is one of the key values that I aim to carry across from practice into this leadership role.
What type of legacy do you hope to leave as a leader?
I hope to build on the strong foundation that has already been established in the Brisbane office in terms of deep client relationships, a high-performance culture and a focus on developing and nurturing talent at all levels.
