The litigation partner doesn’t take his responsibility to help clients through demanding times lightly
For Peter Brabant, part of being an effective lawyer in his field is understanding his clients’ business. He knows that clients trust him to help through complex and demanding times, and it’s not a responsibility he takes lightly.
In the second half of this interview, the K&L Gates partner discusses cost being a barrier to accessing justice and not taking the rule of law for granted.
What’s one misconception you think people have about lawyers, and how would you correct that misconception?
One misconception is that lawyers are only in it for themselves. In reality, our job is very much about standing in someone else’s shoes. We’re trusted to help clients through some of their most complex and demanding moments – in my case, disputes and investigations – and that responsibility isn’t something I take lightly.
To do our job well, we have to understand our client's business: how it operates, what’s at stake, and what they’re ultimately trying to achieve. Our advice only works if it makes sense in the real world, not just on paper. I think once people see how closely lawyers work with clients, and how invested we are in helping them reach the right outcome, that misconception tends to fall away.
What challenges are particularly pressing in the country’s legal industry?
One of the most pressing challenges I see – both locally and globally – is cost. Clients are under constant pressure to manage legal spend, and for individuals in particular, cost can be a real barrier to accessing justice.
In my own practice, disputes and investigations can be complex and resource-intensive and engaging outside counsel can be a significant investment. However, there are steps we can take to help clients reduce cost – for example, we’re increasingly able to manage costs through tools like AI, more flexible fee arrangements, and better use of data and technology. I have been working with my firm, together with external providers, to develop custom document management processes to more efficiently scale down the burden of document preservation, collection and searching. Planning for these steps at the outset goes a long way to making document management more efficient and cost effective.
Just as important as any tool to keep costs down is how well a lawyer understands a client’s business. When you understand how a client operates – and you communicate clearly and consistently throughout a matter – you can be far more efficient. In my experience, that combination makes a meaningful difference not only on cost, but also in delivering an outcome consistent with my client's commercial objectives.
What are your thoughts on the current state of the rule of law worldwide?
We are in a challenging period globally and we must not take for granted the stability and opportunity that the rule of law has provided globally.
In many parts of the world, these foundations are being tested – sometimes subtly, sometimes very openly. That makes it more important than ever not to take the rule of law for granted. As lawyers, we have a role to play in advancing the rule of law by upholding the principles that allow legal systems, markets, and institutions to function with fairness and confidence.
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
Having joined a highly collaborative and integrated firm like K&L Gates, I'm very much looking forward to working with clients and colleagues across the firm's platform. My practice has always been cross-border, and I enjoy working with colleagues across different practices and jurisdictions to best help clients navigate the challenges that disputes and investigations bring.
The firm recognises the value of this collaboration to clients and actively encourages it. I have already seen this in the way our energy industry lawyers work closely together across practice areas – whether it be disputes, corporate, project finance, or regulatory – and offices – whether it be Brisbane, Singapore, or Houston.
