Firm Spotlight: Macpherson Kelley
- Priyanka Sharma
- Aug 4
- 6 min read
Established: 1905
Size (Personnel): 250 Nationally, with 40 Principles
Office Locations: Melbourne, Dandenong, Brisbane and Sydney
Practice Areas:
Commercial (including Banking and Finance, Franchising, Intellectual Property, Privacy Mergers and Acquisitions, Tax and Structuring and Trade)
Corporate (including Corporate Advisory, Compliance and Governance, Equity Capital Markets and Takeovers and Control Transactions)
Property & Construction (including Property, Infrastructure, Construction and Energy, Planning and Environment)
Litigation & Dispute Resolution (including Debt Recovery, Restructuring and Insolvency and Shareholder and Partnership Disputes)
Employment, Safety and Migration
Private Clients (including Family Law and Wills & Estates)
Pacific Legal Network
About Macpherson Kelley
When Jeffrey Macpherson started practising in 1905, our journey began in the manufacturing heart of Melbourne’s southeast. He would meet with clients at the bar of the Royal Hotel in Dandenong, being the sole lawyer of the firm until Charles Kelley joined as his junior partner.
Macpherson Kelley became an incorporated legal practice on 18 February 2008 and since 2015 has operated as a fully integrated national firm under the guidance of a Board of Directors.
Today, we’re a full-service commercial law firm that thinks differently, offering our clients commercial insight, legal ingenuity, and genuine care.
Noteworthy Cases involving Macpherson Kelley
Our team has advised on noteworthy M&A deals, such as the $50m acquisition of Stillwell Motors by Autosports Group, the acquisition of Global Hire & Services by Height 4 Hire, and the sale of Kinder Australia to Attalis Capital and the Victorian Business Growth Fund. Members of our Sydney Litigation team also advised Tesseract International in its landmark High Court victory, and our Queensland Tax team advised on a 10-year cross-border tax dispute with the ATO, which ultimately ruled in favour of their client.
Noteworthy Accomplishments and Awards by Macpherson Kelley
Accomplishments
Macpherson Kelley uses a client experience platform that surveys all clients for feedback at the conclusion of their matter, measuring their likelihood to recommend our services. Since implementation, our Net Promoter Score (NPS) is in the excellent range, with an average client score of 9/10 after over 4,000 survey responses. As a firm focused on supporting both our clients and our people, we believe that our NPS score is reflective of our commitment to client service and dedication to growing the capabilities of our lawyers.
Awards
Our various practice groups and talented lawyers have been recognised across multiple directories and awards including Legal 500, World Trademark Review, IP Stars, Lawyers Weekly, Doyles guide, and more.
As a firm, we have recently won the following awards:
Australasian Lawyer - 2024 5-star Employer of Choice.
Client Culture - 2025 Leading Firm | Service Excellence.
Workplace Giving Australia - Best Payroll Giving program 2024 | Highly Commended
MK Foundation
We’re committed to supporting charities and other care giving organisations through the Macpherson Kelley Foundation, which has proudly donated over $490,000 to a variety of charities since its formation. We have also implemented a corporate volunteering policy, which offers employees a full day of paid volunteer leave per annum. This important work rounds out our connection to the community we serve.
What does the future look like for Macpherson Kelley?
We are ambitious for growth at Macpherson Kelley, both in the breadth and complexity of the work we undertake for clients, and in the development opportunities we offer our lawyers. Guided by our core value of “better each day”, our firm is committed to continuing to grow in areas that sustain our business into the future.
Our HR team has developed transparent learning pathways, creating a clear framework for lawyers looking to progress through the ranks. We also offer a bespoke female leadership program to support more females into leadership roles within the firm. By 1 July 2028, Macpherson Kelley's goal is for women to comprise 50% of our Principal Lawyer positions.
We continue to increase our offerings in ESG and compliance space, particularly as businesses (including the legal sector) face increased regulatory and reporting obligations. We see our commercial lens and deep connection to industry as a competitive advantage in the market, and want to be the go-to firm for clients looking to navigate the incoming changes.
Informed by client feedback initiatives, we are always looking for ways to improve client experience, whether that be through new technology, revised processes, or client service platforms. As a modern and progressive firm, it’s important for our firm to keep pace with change.
How does Macpherson Kelley embody your Mission Statement?
Our teams combine sharp minds with real-world business understanding and a human approach that supports clients every step of the way. Macpherson Kelley embodies its Mission, Purpose, and Vision by offering support and opportunities for our lawyers to thrive both personally and professionally.
Purpose
To help our clients and our people succeed in business and in life.
Mission
To give commercial legal guidance to medium-large organisations. Client and employee experience is at the core of what we do. We want to help strengthen the communities and industries that we operate in.
Vision
We are a leading, progressive law firm, owned by our people. Our clients and our people are our greatest advocates.
Our Mission, Purpose, and Vision is further defined by the way we work with our clients and with each other. They guide key decisions we make in the business and reflect how important it is to enjoy our work and have fun, as well as deliver exceptional service to our clients.
Talk straight - We tell it as it is. We’re not afraid to have the difficult conversations. We’re honest and ethical.
Play as a Team - We work hard, have fun and celebrate success. We collaborate and support each other.
Better each Day - We’re committed to always improving and embracing change.
What sets Macpherson Kelley apart?
Our people and our clients are at the core of what we do at Macpherson Kelley, so we’re invested in the growth of our graduates from day dot.
We have professional development opportunities through the MK Business School, including training and mentoring programs. We foster a positive learning environment that teaches graduates to hone their legal, emotional and commercial intelligence. This approach builds skilled lawyers who are empowered to deliver clear, practical and actionable legal guidance to clients.
Our national structure offers graduates exposure to a wide range of practice areas and the opportunity to develop deep industry knowledge.
Our values underpin our firm and are embraced by our staff. We’re not interested in office politics. We support each other and want to see our people succeed in business and in life.
We are, therefore, dedicated to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels safe and empowered. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee drives internal change, focusing on gender, culture and religion, LGBTIQA+, and people with disabilities. We offer 20 weeks of paid parental leave for the primary carer, including superannuation on both paid and unpaid leave.
We are committed to accelerating workplace gender equality, eliminating gender bias, and promoting understanding of gender issues. We aim to meet the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s (WGEA) indicators, and have active programs and policies that encourage women to take on more leadership positions.
Our Reconciliation Action Plan reflects our commitment to understanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, supporting reconciliation within our firm and communities.
What opportunities does Macpherson Kelley offer law students and graduates?
The firm hires between 12 to 16 graduates nationally each year across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. We aim to develop strong, commercially minded lawyers who work closely with clients from day one to understand their challenges and add value to their businesses.
Our year-long graduate program includes three-month rotations through various law practice areas, allowing graduates to discover their interests and career focus. Professional development is a priority. This is reflected through our Business School, business bootcamps, one-on-one mentoring, and regular feedback from senior lawyers.
We promote a healthy work-life balance through our Flex+ and Wellness+ programs and have a "dress for your day" policy. We work hard but we know how to have fun along the way!
After completing the 12-month graduate program at Macpherson Kelley, graduates typically transition into a permanent practice area within the firm that aligns with both their interests and the firm's business needs. Each graduate begins to specialise in this chosen field, building on the skills and experience developed through the graduate program.
Graduates continue to receive mentoring and professional development opportunities, ensuring they grow into well-rounded, commercially minded lawyers. We want our lawyers to envisage a long-term future with the firm and grow with us.
International students who are permanent residents or hold a valid work Visa are encouraged to apply for our graduate program.
