Warren Graham and Murphy staff enjoyed their end-of-year celebration at Lightfoot Winery in Myrtle Point.
The group raised their glasses in the warm sunshine from the decks of the Lightfoot cellar, overlooking the Mitchell River and its stunning river flat views.
Toasts were made to celebrate Alison Tanner’s 30th anniversary at Warren Graham and Murphy. Alison began her career at the firm as a young lawyer in December 1993 working as an articled clerk to Brian Lightfoot.
Peter Murphy announced his retirement from the partnership of Warren Graham and Murphy. Peter began working for the firm in
1983 at the Sale office, articled to Peter Ryan, who
later became the Attorney General for Victoria. Peter moved to the Bairnsdale office after a stint studying in London. Peter plans to remain at the firm as a consultant.
Peter is the son of the late Milton Murphy and son-in-law of Ian Campbell, both long-standing partners of the firm. Ian retired from the firm after 56 years at the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Peter’s daughter, Alexandra, worked at WGM while she was studying part-time. His wife, Susan, also works at the firm as a registered migration agent dealing with migration and citizenship matters.
Peter is an accredited specialist in family law and criminal law. He has appeared in the Victorian Court thousands of times over the course of his career but will hand over the court work reins to Erin Thorsen, who has worked at the firm for six years.
Wendy Barnard has worked as the office manager for 15 years. A toast was made to Wendy, as all those present were sorry to see her go. Wendy has a steel trap mind for figures and no sum escapes her attention. Sharon Williams is the new office manager and Wendy wished Sharon well.
Family ties run deep at Warren Graham and Murphy. The gathering was joined by Brian and Rob Lightfoot. Brian was a partner at the firm for several decades before developing the winery, originally called Lightfoot and Sons, and working as a tribunal member for VCAT. Brian’s daughter-in-law, Jane, has been a lawyer at Warren Graham and Murphy for almost five years.
Graham Andrews and his sister, Jenny Dingle, have worked for WGM for a combined total of 100 years. Graham has more recently worked from the Lakes Entrance office and has decided it is time to retire. Jenny, who retains an Encyclopedic memory of local knowledge, is not going anywhere, for now.
Rohan Hubbard is now the senior partner at WGM. Rohan works in commercial law at the Bairnsdale, Sale and Warburton offices. Rowan is joined by his wife, Imogen, who runs the conveyancing and property department in Bairnsdale.
Erin, the appointed photographer for the day, captured the group from the Bairnsdale, Sale and Lakes Entrance offices, getting into the festive swing.
Samantha Lowe, who joined the firm as a commercial lawyer at the beginning of 2023, was absent as she is spending Christmas overseas.
