KHQ LAWYERS - FIRM SPOTLIGHT
- Apr 27
- 6 min read
Established: 2006
Size (personnel): 123
Office Locations: Melbourne
Practice Areas: Competition Law & Regulatory Compliance, Construction, Infrastructure & Energy, Corporate & Commercial, Data Privacy, Cyber & Digital, Family & Relationship Law, Food & Beverage, Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Litigation & Dispute Resolution, Private Wealth Law, Superannuation & Financial Services, Tax & Structuring, Technology, Wills & Estates, Workplace Relations & Safety
ABOUT US
KHQ Lawyers occupies a unique space in the legal services market. The firm was started in 2006 by two lawyers with top-tier and in-house backgrounds, who had a vision as to what a law firm should be – technically excellent, nimble, flexible and cost effective without compromising on quality. Their vision led to a new type of law firm: the boutique top-tier. A full service firm with high calibre talent, clients, and expertise underpinned by the best characteristics of a boutique (agility, flexibility, efficiency, friendliness, and cost
effectiveness).
Today, KHQ is a thriving commercial law firm with more than 120 people, supporting clients across Australia and internationally.
NOTEWORTHY CASES
Corporate M&A: We advised SGS Australia Holdings Pty Ltd (SGS Australia), a leading
provider of testing, inspection and certification services, on its successful acquisition of Fulcrum Robotics Pty Ltd. SGS Australia is a subsidiary of Société Générale de Surveillance S.A., a company listed on SIX Swiss Exchange (SGSN). Fulcrum Robotics is an Australian specialist in robotic and remote sensing solutions, recognised for its capabilities in unmanned systems, artificial intelligence and precision sensor technologies. The acquisition enhances SGS Australia’s technological offering and aligns with its strategy to integrate innovative digital solutions across its global operations.
Employment and industrial relations: Noticed all the major construction and infrastructure projects happening around the country? Our Workplace Relations & Safety team have advised and provided day to day support and litigation for various John Holland, Lend Lease and CPB Contractors joint ventures across Australia. Projects we have advised on include the Melbourne Metro Tunnel, Sydney Metro Tunnel, Torrens to Darlington (Adelaide) and Gold Coast Light Rail projects. We have also been appointed to act for the John Holland and Bouygues Construction Australia joint venture regarding the new $15 billion cross-city tunnel and freeway in Adelaide.
As part of this project, we provided strategic advice for a “greenfields” agreement with the Australian Workers Union (AWU) in anticipation of the project commencing. We assisted first with the drafting of the agreement, and then operated in tandem with the AWU to have the agreement approved by a Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission. This led to new law being set down in the jurisprudence for the making of “greenfields” agreements.
Food innovation: We regularly support producers and manufacturers of a range of products in the FMCG sector to navigate the complex regulatory minefield to find a path to market. The types of products we advise on included food, liquor, therapeutic goods, cosmetics, complimentary medicines, supplements, pet food and more. Vow Food Group is an Australian—based biotechnology company, and the first company to ever seek regulatory approval of a lab-grown/cell-cultured meat product as food in Australia (and in other countries around the world). Given the highly innovative nature of its endeavour, Vow was supported by the head of our Food & Beverage regulatory practice (acting as the company’s sole legal advisor on food and beverage regulation) in advising on its interactions with food regulators as well as import and export regulators.
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS AND AWARDS
KHQ is consistently recognised in leading national and international legal ranking directories, including:
Chambers & Partners: our lawyers are recognised in both the High Net Worth guide (in the private wealth category) and Asia Pacific guide (in the employment law and superannuation categories).
Legal 500 Asia Pacific: KHQ is ranked a leading firm in the employment, corporate M&A and dispute resolution (litigation) categories, with 15 lawyers recognised across these practice areas. Doyles Guide: KHQ is recognised in the corporate and commercial, litigation and dispute resolution, taxation, wills and estates, and employment law categories, with 11 lawyers individually recognised in these practice areas.
We also have 19 lawyers across 8 practice areas ranked in The Best LawyersTM in Australia.
THE FUTURE OF KHQ LAWYERS
KHQ Lawyers was founded on a simple but powerful idea: that exceptional legal services could be delivered smarter, faster and with more flexibility than the traditional law firm model allowed. We have carved out a distinct niche in the legal services market as the originator of the boutique top tier segment. This means we combine the technical excellence and commercial acumen of a top-tier firm with the agility, accessibility and pragmatism of a boutique.
Last year KHQ entered into a strategic alliance with one of the largest law firms in China, DeHeng Law Offices. The alliance combines KHQ’s expertise with the global reach of DeHeng, which has more than 5,000 legal professionals across 16 countries. Our clients will benefit from the combined expertise and world class talent of both firms - one seamless, culturally fluent touch point across twenty practice areas. Whether clients are investing in Australia, expanding into China, or navigating complex cross border deals, the alliance creates a bridge between east and west and genuine cross-cultural understanding.
KHQ is also a member of prestigious international legal referral networks, Lawyers Associated Worldwide and First Law International – both of which are ranked in the Global Law Firm Networks category of the Chambers & Partners Global Guide.
Looking ahead, we are focused on sustainable growth, expanding our global reach via our international alliances while staying true to what makes us different. Simultaneously, we are investing in emerging areas to ensure we can support our clients through an increasingly complex and rapidly changing legal landscape.
We are excited about the future. As the legal profession continues to evolve, so too will KHQ - always with the same commitment to delivering great outcomes for our clients and great careers for our people. For graduates, this means the opportunity to make your mark early, learn directly from experienced practitioners and grow within a firm that is building something different.
LIVING OUR MISSION
We call the set of values we live by ‘The KHQ Way’. It is the path that we choose to follow for our fundamental principles, behaviours, relationships, and accountability – to our clients and to each other. We:
Dare to be different: We’re committed to continuous learning and improvement. We value individuality, encourage innovation, and never assume there’s only one way to solve a problem. Our people are supported to think differently, take initiative and grow.
Live the relationship: Relationships are central to everything we do. We take the time to understand our clients and each other, and we build trust through integrity, accountability and clear communication.
Deliver results: We focus on delivering real results. That means setting clear goals, following through on promises, and aiming to exceed expectations - without compromising quality.
The KHQ Way isn’t just words on a page. It’s how we work every day.
WHAT SETS KHQ LAWYERS APART
We are very proud of our inclusive culture. We work diligently to foster an environment where everyone (regardless of background, identity or experience) is valued, supported, and given the opportunity to thrive. Examples of how we achieve this:
Open door policy: our open-plan office encourages collaboration within and across teams. More importantly, our people have ready access to directors and senior leaders and are encouraged to reach out, regardless of the issue. This open-door approach is enshrined in our Employee Handbook and reflects our commitment to transparency and accessibility at all levels.
Mentor and buddy program: every new team member is assigned a “buddy” (from another team or service area of the business) to help them settle in and feel connected to the firm, and to help with any questions they may have throughout their employment. We encourage our people to prioritise catch-ups with their buddies over coffee or lunch. In addition, everyone is assigned a mentor to help with professional development, which is a popular and successful program and has nurtured excellent working relationships, founded in mutual respect, between staff members of all levels.
Regular and inclusive staff functions: including monthly pizza lunches, Friday night drinks, games nights, trivia nights, movie outings and EOFY/Christmas celebrations. This involves group activities and meals and drinks to give our people time to unwind and enjoy each other’s company. This aids in promoting a culture of inclusiveness and support for our people.
Gender equality: our commitment to gender equity is reflected across the firm. Women comprise 60% of our total workforce, 37% of our senior leadership, and 52% of lawyers across the firm. We are proud to have strong female representation at all levels of the business and continue to implement initiatives that support gender-balanced leadership and career progression.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
Each year, KHQ welcomes a small group of outstanding graduates to join our 12-month graduate program, which involves quarterly rotations through our practice groups. The program affords a well-rounded understanding of each team’s work and helps graduates to make informed decisions about their long-term direction. Graduates will be mentored by one of KHQ’s directors over the course of their graduate year, together with practice group mentors and buddies to help them settle into KHQ life, and ultimately to succeed in their roles. Graduates should be prepared for a busy social calendar early on, with plenty of coffees and lunches designed to help them build connections across the firm.
We support our graduates every step of the way with guidance, feedback and opportunities to learn.
