Three lateral hires join insurance, commercial disputes and insolvency groups
Mills Oakley, a national law firm, has announced the lateral hires of three new partners: Sarah Fountain in the insurance practice and Jonathan Ivanisevic and Chris Brodrick in the commercial disputes and insolvency groups.
In a media release, Mills Oakley said Brodrick and Fountain are based in the Melbourne office, while Ivanisevic works from the Brisbane office.
John Nerurker, Mills Oakley’s chief executive officer, welcomed the firm’s new partners.
“These appointments show our growth strategy at work,” Nerurker said in the media release. “We’re bringing in high calibre partners to meet rising client demand, expand our national reach and deepen our expertise.”
According to the firm, on the national level, the additions mean that the firm has over 175 partners and 23 commercial disputes and insolvency partners.
“With leaders of this calibre on board, we’re building for long-term success, strengthening our bench, and opening new opportunities for our people and our clients across Australia,” Nerurker said in the firm’s media release.
Fountain has experience in professional indemnity claims, construction litigation, regulatory investigations, and insurance coverage advice. She has helped clients navigate commercial and regulatory risk.
According to her LinkedIn page, at DLA Piper in Melbourne, she worked as a partner from May 2019 to September 2025 and as a senior associate from February 2011 to April 2019.
Fountain was a senior solicitor at Plexus Law from June 2008 to February 2011; a solicitor at various law firms in London, UK, from April 2006 to June 2008; and an associate at Kelly & Co (now HWL Ebsworth) in Adelaide from September 2002 to January 2006.
She obtained her LLB from Flinders University.
With over 25 years of experience, Brodrick has experience in commercial dispute resolution, corporate restructuring, and risk management. He focuses on corporations’ law, property, finance, and trusts.
He has assisted domestic and international property organisations and clients in Australian Securities and Investments Commission investigations and regulatory proceedings.
Brodrick’s firm biography states that he has worked across various industries, including real estate development, shopping centre operation and leasing, mining, finance, trusts, and financial services.
According to his LinkedIn page, upon joining Holding Redlich in Melbourne in 2009, he handled dispute resolution and litigation, retail law, corporate insolvency, and property matters.
Brodrick is a member of the Law Institute of Victoria. He earned his LLB from La Trobe University and his certificate in advanced insolvency from the University of Southern Queensland.
Ivanisevic has experience in commercial litigation, insolvency, and regulatory matters. Ivanisevic has advised publicly listed and private companies, executive officers, and individuals.
Ivanisevic has worked on disputes and litigious matters spanning the mining, manufacturing, transport, tourism and agribusiness sectors.
