Griffin Legal was founded in 2009 as a modern alternative to “big firms”.
From the outset our focus has been on providing quality, practical and timely solutions for clients, with Griffin Legal also leading the way in adopting new technology and administration practices, while importantly making work-life balance for our staff a reality.
Our initiatives, and consequential impact in the legal sector, have positively changed the way legal services are provided to government, not-for-profits and business.
Our mission is to be a leading innovative legal and advisory firm providing quality services to government, business, and not-for-profits.
Almost 15 years later, we have grown significantly but remain committed to the principles of quality work, exceptional client service and innovation. These principles have created confidence in the Griffin Legal brand, while at the same time guaranteeing we attract and retain top talent.
We live and breathe our firm values of Integrity, Excellence, Connection, Growth and Wellbeing in everything that we do.
Griffin Legal is a 100% female owned business, with our head office in Canberra, and operating nationally.
Griffin Legal has a well-established track record of giving back to the local community, through pro-bono work and engaging local staff and suppliers.
Over the years we have won many awards, and in 2022 we were the proud recipient of the ACT Law Society, ACT Firm of the Year Award for outstanding local pro-bono contributions, and commitment to diversity and staff wellbeing.
Meet our
leadership
team
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Carina Zeccola
Managing Director
Practice Areas Carina is the Managing Director and Government Team Leader at Griffin Legal. As Managing Director, Carina leads the execution of the firm’s strategic direction, by working closely with our team and clients to achieve the firm’s goals and vision, which is to remain a leading innovative legal and advisory firm. As Government Team…
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Claire Carton
Executive Director
Practice Areas Claire is founding partner and Executive Director at Griffin Legal and is our Not-for-Profit Team Leader. Now in her third decade of legal practice, Claire is known for her focused and strategic delivery of client outcomes. Having started her legal career in banking and finance, Claire has continued to practice broadly in corporate…
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Nicole Platt
Partner
Practice Areas Nicole is a Partner at Griffin Legal, who specialises in the areas of probity and procurement, as well as overseeing the firm’s wills and estates practice. Nicole is a subject matter expert on running defensible and compliant procurement processes, with a particular interest on ensuring probity in the process. Nicole is an experienced…
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Damien Brazel
Partner
Practice Areas Damien is a Partner at Griffin Legal, and his main areas of practice are administrative law, litigation, procurement and information law. Damien has advised on a numerous Australian Government policies and programs, and the legislative frameworks that underpins them. Damien delivers solution-orientated legal advice based on over 15 years’ experience advising many different…
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Jodie Bateup
Partner
Jodie is a Partner at Griffin Legal who specialises in Employment Law and Corporate Governance. Jodie has extensive experience assisting government and not-for-profit clients with complex employment matters, including contracts, enterprise agreements and navigating termination. Jodie has extensive experience providing governance advice and support to not-for-profit organisations. Jodie has gained trust from colleagues and clients…
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William Ward
Partner
Will is a Partner at Griffin Legal who is one of only four lawyers in Canberra who are accredited by the NSW Law Society as a specialist in employment and industrial relations law. Will is an employment law subject matter expert with over 20 years’ experience in employment law and workplace relations. Will has advised…
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Melinda Twyford
Special Counsel
- Government IT Procurement and Contracts
- Corporate/Non-corporate Governance
- Industrial Relations and Employment
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Panel Arrangements
Griffin Legal has extensive capability in advising Government with a passion for providing high quality legal services to both Commonwealth Government and State/Territory Governments.
We can be engaged for both on-panel and off-panel work to suit the needs of the government agency.
We are proud to be an approved supplier appointed to many Australian Government and ACT Government panels.
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- Whole of Australian Government Legal Services Panel
- Management Advisory Services Panel
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Probity Services Panel
- Sport Integrity Australia Investigation Panel
- Airservices Australia Workplace Investigations
- ASIC Enforcement Bundling Arrangements
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- ACT Government Legal Services Panel
- ACT Public Trustee and Guardian Panel
- ACT Government Administrative Reviews, Investigations and Related Services Panel
- Ararat Rural City Council Probity Panel
- Registered Secure Local Jobs Auditors, appointed by ACT Government
Areas of Expertise
GL.
Insights
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Does your organisation understand its whistleblower obligations?
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Cyber security isn’t a set and forget matter!
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A tale of two intertwining records
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Cyber Incident Response: Five things you’re forgetting to plan for
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Employment law update: What is new in 2025?
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Does non-renewal of a fixed term contract amount to a termination of employment?