Law Partners, a specialist personal injury firm, has acquired Newcastle-based Catherine Henry Lawyers (CHL), marking a significant expansion in its regional presence. The merger aligns both firms’ values and strengthens their commitment to client outcomes, according to Catherine Henry, the founder and principal of CHL. She expressed that this partnership is a “natural one,” emphasizing the shared dedication to providing compassionate and high-quality legal representation.
In a statement, Ms. Henry noted that the agreement will result in minimal disruption for existing CHL clients. “Law Partners shares our dedication to compassionate, high-quality legal representation,” she said. The acquisition also means that CHL staff will transition to Law Partners, with Ms. Henry continuing in a senior leadership role within the firm’s health law and medical negligence team.
Established in 2009, CHL has garnered a solid reputation for its work in medical negligence and institutional abuse cases, supported by a team recognized for exceptional advocacy and case outcomes. The merger is expected to enable Ms. Henry to devote more time to advocating for regional communities and vulnerable groups. “I believe the law should be used as a tool to improve our society. I believe litigation is a tool for social education, and Law Partners shares that belief,” she remarked.
The merger also highlights the commitment to enhancing opportunities for women in the legal profession. Ms. Henry, a founding member of the Newcastle chapter of the NSW Women Lawyers Association, noted that Law Partners has demonstrated a strong dedication to promoting women, as evidenced by the fact that all lawyers who progressed to partner at Law Partners in the last financial year were women.
The acquisition aims to expand the reach of medical negligence and health law work into regional areas, addressing significant disparities in health outcomes compared to metropolitan centers. “We look forward to continuing to help rectify this disparity,” Ms. Henry added.
The acquisition was also praised by Shane Butcher, founding partner of Law Partners. He stated, “Catherine Henry Lawyers has earned an exceptional reputation over many years, particularly for its work in medical negligence.” He highlighted that strengthening their presence in Newcastle and the Hunter region will allow them to support more Australians facing complex medical negligence claims.
The announcement comes alongside changes in leadership at the Newcastle Greater Mutual Group (NGM Group), where Darren Turner has been appointed as the incoming chair. He succeeds Samantha Martin-Williams, whose tenure concludes next month. Mr. Turner, a retired partner from PwC with over four decades of experience, expressed his commitment to continuing the positive trajectory of NGM Group.
As the flower industry gears up for the inaugural Flower Summit 2026, a collaborative pricing resource is being developed in Newcastle. The Australian Grower-Led Flower Pricing Guide aims to establish fair and transparent pricing, taking into account various factors like real on-farm labor and seasonal risks.
In a related initiative, Newcastle entrepreneur Brittney Saunders has joined forces with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in a competition designed to amplify small businesses. This initiative builds on the success of last year’s campaign, where players from the CommBank Matildas promoted local enterprises.
With cautious optimism, small businesses across Australia are looking ahead to 2026, as noted by Bec Warren, executive general manager of Small Business Banking at CommBank. She indicated that while challenges such as lingering inflation remain, the economic outlook appears steady.
For more information on the competition and its benefits for small businesses, visit commbank.com.au/backingbusiness.
