ON-DEMAND: ‘Beat the Clock’ 2026 | Beyond the Brief: Networking Strategies for In-House Lawyers

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.

Maria is a leading commercial lawyer with expertise in the Australian transport industry.

Maria regularly advises government, transport operators, manufacturers and suppliers within the transport and logistics industry in relation to major Government contracts, procurement processes, supply agreements, due diligence and OHS issues. She has extensive experience in drafting and advising on Government passenger service contracts throughout Australia and is considered an expert on Government contracts in the transport industry.

Recently, Maria has advised her clients on the introduction of zero emission vehicles into their operations and zero emission charging infrastructure into transport depots. Her work includes reviewing variations to existing passenger service contracts, drafting supply agreements, drafting agreements with energy providers and negotiating purchase or lease agreements with OEMs for the zero emission vehicles. She has a keen interest in this area and is keeping a close eye on this innovation which is rapidly changing the transport industry.

She also has significant experience in negotiating and advising on complex M&A transactions by way of asset and/or share sale throughout Australia. She is particularly sought out for her industry knowledge which is an advantage for her clients while doing due diligence and obtaining consent for the transaction from Government and other third parties.

In her role in advising operators and suppliers, Maria has been engaged to provide advice on a variety of property issues in relation to transport depots and relevant infrastructure.

Maria is highly regarded for her legal skills as well as her understanding of the commercial realities that her clients face.

Meriel is an internationally recognised dispute resolution and litigation lawyer with expertise in domestic and international arbitrations, court-ordered and private mediations and expert determinations.

As a leading advisor in the energy, mining, transport, construction, agribusiness and life sciences and healthcare sectors, she has also worked in London, the Caribbean and is highly experienced in the Australian court system having practised in both Sydney and Perth, as well as running cases in Melbourne.

Meriel assists clients at the contract drafting and negotiation stage of a transaction in order to put them in the best position to avoid a future dispute.

Meriel has a broad range of disputes experience, including: advising on domestic gas and LNG pricing disputes; representing clients in industries including agribusiness and mining on joint venture disputes; and advising clients in industries including mining, life sciences and healthcare, logistics, shipping and transport, on complex contractual disputes. She also regularly advises clients about corporate and minority shareholder disputes, construction disputes and on acquisitions by scheme of arrangement.

In addition to holding a First Class Honours Degree in Law, Meriel is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Company Directors course.

Meriel holds positions on two Not-For-Profit Boards, being a Director of both the Australian British Chamber of Commerce (WA Branch) and the Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group (AAMEG).  She is also a mentor with Mentor Walks and an active member of 100 Women and the British Business Network.