Across Australia, Sparke Helmore Lawyers recently announced the promotion of 11 lawyers to senior associate positions in the Commercial & Projects, Corporate, Insurance and Workplace Groups, including Cheree Sawley in the Newcastle office.

Sparke Helmore’s Chairman of Partners, Mark Hickey, said the promotion is recognition of Cheree’s exceptional performance, providing excellent service for our clients and supporting her team.

“Cheree’s combination of skills in litigation and previous experience in general commercial matters – combined with her interest in alternative dispute resolution and negotiation – allow her to assist clients to achieve settlement, where possible, and where necessary to pursue her clients’ interests through litigation,” Mark said.

“I congratulate Cheree on her well-deserved promotion and I am sure she will continue to make significant contributions and provide invaluable support to her team in this more senior role.”

Cheree joined Sparke Helmore Lawyers in January 2010. She achieved First Class Honours in law at the Australian National University and was admitted as a lawyer in February 2011.

Since becoming a lawyer, Cheree has worked with clients primarily on commercial litigation and dispute resolution matters and on construction, projects and infrastructure matters. She has appeared in a variety of jurisdictions, including the Court of Appeal of NSW and the Federal Court of Australia, on behalf of clients in commercial and construction disputes. Cheree has advised both creditors and insolvency practitioners in bankruptcy and insolvency matters.

Her construction experience includes advising principals and contractors in defect claims and claims for progress payments under the Building and Constructions Industry Security of Payment Act 1999 (NSW) and the Building and Construction Industry Payments Act 2004 (Qld) and also drafting and negotiating building and construction contracts.