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Marisa is a corporate lawyer, having practised in London, Sydney and Perth.  Her expertise spans ECM (IPOs, secondary raisings), private and public M&A (takeovers, schemes), joint ventures, and boardroom advisory, with deep experience in domestic and cross-border transactions.

As leader of Piper Alderman’s national Head Office Advisory practice, Marisa works closely with ASX-listed, private and NFP boards, executives, legal teams and company secretaries across the full organisational life cycle.  Her work includes governance reviews, board and committee restructures, CEO succession, executive pay and incentives, annual and ESG reporting, shareholder meetings, stakeholder engagement, activism preparedness, regulatory investigations, and market disclosure.  She designs governance and risk frameworks tailored to an organisation’s size, culture, risk appetite and regulatory context, and has contributed to ASX and ASIC industry consultations.

Recognised for her strategic insight and commercial acumen (enhanced by secondments with ASX-listed resources companies in Perth), Marisa delivers tangible value in both day-to-day governance and major Corporate/M&A and ECM transactions.  She is known for her pragmatic, collaborative approach and ability to focus on outcomes over obstacles in complex matters.

Marisa holds a GAICD and is a member of the Law Council of Australia’s Business Law Section Corporations Committee, keeping her closely involved in corporate governance developments and consultations on proposed reforms to Australia’s corporate law and regulatory framework.

Lis is a trusted corporate lawyer with a reputation for combining sharp legal expertise with a deep understanding of business strategy. She advises listed and private companies, multinationals, and not-for-profit organisations on governance, structure, operations, and growth. Her clients value her ability to build enduring relationships and immerse herself in their culture, ensuring advice that is timely, practical, and aligned with their vision.

At the strategic level, Lis partners with boards and senior executives on high-impact transactions — from capital raisings and restructures to strategic collaborations and mergers & acquisitions. Her extensive experience and pragmatic insights are particularly sought after by growing organisations navigating complex projects.

Lis also helps organisations strengthen governance frameworks, making them fit for purpose and future-ready. She brings emotional intelligence to sensitive matters such as member approvals and conflicts of interest, drawing on her credentials as a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. For listed entities, she provides clear, actionable guidance on continuous disclosure obligations.

Operationally, Lis champions a practical approach to embedding compliance in everyday operations. She trains boards and managers on key legal duties, designs contract review frameworks aligned with risk appetite, and negotiates complex agreements with precision.

Her deep understanding of the Life Sciences and Healthcare sector is reflected in her leadership roles:

• Co-Chair, Piper Alderman Life Sciences and Healthcare focus group
• Non-Executive Director, Immutep Ltd (ASX: IMM; NASDAQ: IMMP)
• Chair, AusBiotech NSW State Committee

A regular speaker at AusBiotech conferences, ANDHealth workshops, and BioShares masterclasses, Lis is a natural connector, fostering collaboration and strengthening Australia’s life sciences ecosystem.