About
LAURA THOMAS

After working for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia and as an Associate at the Supreme Court of Western Australia, I worked on global construction disputes for an international top-tier commercial firm for 5 years.  In private practice there was no shortage of Diet Cokes, river views, excellent people and stimulating work.  However, I did wonder whether I wanted to live the rest of my life flailing my hands around in the air to keep the motion-sensing office lights on while working at night. 

Fortuitously, around this time I chanced upon a friend who offered me an opportunity to work as an in-house lawyer embedded within a company.  From then on, I was hooked on in-house as the best way to practice law for me.   

For the last 5 years, I have worked for various companies in the mining, construction and infrastructure industries.  I love being ‘in the tent’ with a business working to achieve its strategic objectives and deliver projects.  I reject the commonly held view that business stakeholders should only speak to “Legal” [said in an ominous tone] in a break glass in case of emergency situation. 

My way of practising in-house is to be seen as a resource, not a roadblock collaborating with business stakeholders on an ongoing basis to deliver legally sound and commercial solutions to further the business’ strategic outcomes.  My passion and aptitude for in-house legal practice was recently recognised with my listing in the Legal 500: GC Powerlist Australia Rising Stars 2023 Laura Thomas – GC Powerlist (legal500.com).