Commercial law firm Thomson Playford has appointed Loretta Reynolds as its new Chairman of the Board of Partners.

Ms Reynolds, 39, is the first female Chairman for Thomson Playford in its 120-year history and she joins a very select group of women in similar positions in the professional services industry across Australia.

She has been a member of Thomson Playford’s Board since 1 July 2003 and is a Partner in the firm’s Corporate division, heading up the mergers & acquisitions practice in Adelaide.

She brings to the position her experience as a previous Board member of Thomson Playford as well as external Board positions including MTAA Super.

“It is a great privilege to be appointed as Chair in such an exciting time for Thomson Playford as we continue our national expansion,” Ms Reynolds said.

“I look forward to playing my part in steering our firm through its next growth phase and am grateful for the opportunity which will continue to help me develop as a professional and as an adviser.

“While the Chair’s role brings new responsibilities and challenges, I remain committed to the firm ’s mergers & acquisitions team and my involvement in corporate transactions and the private equity sector will remain as active as ever.

“The Chair’s role is one of setting strategic direction, and not management of the firm, as this is left to our CEO.”

Thomson Playford Chief Executive, Brett Goodridge, said Ms Reynolds was a good choice for the position of Chair.

“Loretta has always gone beyond the call of duty – both in her role as Partner and during her time on the Board,” Mr Goodridge said.

“She is an outstanding lawyer and communicator in her own right but also possesses the business acumen and foresight needed as Chair.

“In law firms, as with any large businesses, it’s crucial to have a cohesive and forward-looking Board setting the direction and working hard in the interests of all staff and clients. We have that at Thomson Playford.”

Ms Reynolds takes up the Chair position from July 1, 2007.

She replaces outgoing chairman David Munt who is stepping down from the Chair’s position and retiring as Partner.

“David’s involvement with the firm is in no way over, as he will continue as a consultant, a board member of valued clients and an active supporter of the firm,” Ms Reynolds said.

Loretta Reynolds began her career with Thomson Playford in Adelaide as a graduate lawyer in 1991. She later moved to Melbourne and specialised in mergers & acquisitions, holding the position of Senior Associate at national law firm Freehills.

Ms Reynolds returned to Thomson Playford in 1998 as a Partner and has grown the firm’s mergers and acquisitions practice. She has worked on major national deals including acting for SDS Corporation Limited in its takeover by Sandvik in 2006 and in Futuris Corporation Limited’s bid for WA-based ASX listed company Integrated Tree Cropping Limited in 2006.

She has a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment at FinSia. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a former Board member of MTAA Super (Motor Trades Association of Australia Superannuation Pty Ltd).

With offices in Adelaide and Sydney, and a developing presence in Melbourne, commercial law firm Thomson Playford has more than 250 staff including 145 lawyers.

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