Ashurst on the hunt for pro bono chief as Anne Cregan quits

ASHURST has begun a worldwide search for a new global pro bono head after Australian partner Anne Cregan quit her post.

ASHURST has begun a worldwide search for a new global pro bono head after respected Australian partner Anne Cregan quit her post less than a year after she was appointed to the role.

Ms Cregan was seen as one of the biggest winners of the merger between Ashurst Australia and its British counterpart, taking over responsibility for the firm’s international pro bono activities.

It is understood initial teething problems relating to the co-ordination of the firm’s pro bono activities from Sydney were being resolved.

However, Ms Cregan departed the firm this week and will take up a role as special counsel at Gilbert + Tobin in November.

Ashurst’s managing partner, Australia, John Carrington, told The Australian the firm had engaged an executive search firm to test the market in Australia, Britain and the US for a replacement.

“There is an ongoing and very high-level commitment to pro bono not only from the Australian side, but also from our global chairman, our global managing partner and our global board,” he said. “We’re treating this very, very seriously.”

The hire is a coup for Gilbert + Tobin’s pro bono team.

The firm’s pro bono head, Michelle Hannon, said Ms Cregan’s appointment would enable the firm to expand its pro bono practice and develop more projects promoting access to justice.

Ashurst’s new pro bono head will not necessarily be based in Sydney, and whoever is awarded the position will be clocking up their frequent flyer points.

Mr Carrington said: “We recognise that whoever comes into this role is going to have to be prepared to undertake a substantial amount of international travel.”

He said he was disappointed Ms Cregan had resigned.

“She has made a fantastic contribution to our firm for many, many years,” he said.

“Pro bono is very much part of our firm’s DNA and Anne … has been one of the partners responsible for embedding it so deeply.”

He said pro bono work was very much part of the legal culture in Australia and the US, but the British law firms were less advanced in this area.

Ashurst partner Ray Mainsbridge will step into the position until a new global head is found.