Kellie Link

Kellie Link is a special counsel in our financial restructuring and insolvency team. Based in Perth, she has been with the firm since joining as a graduate in 2013. We caught up with Kellie to find out what it's like to work at Norton Rose Fulbright, her career highlights, and how partner support has played an integral role in her development as a lawyer.

1. How long have you worked at NRF? 

I started with the firm as a grad, and have been here for almost 10 years now.

2. What keeps you here?

A combination of really great work, and really great people is the reason I’m still here. It sounds cringey, but it’s true.

We have a very close, long standing team which is great to be a part of. Most of our team members have been with the firm for over five years, which I think is a pretty good indication of the great working environment and team culture.

We take our work seriously, but we also make sure we enjoy it. We socialise as a team, and take a genuine interest in each other. Our team is also heavily involved in leading the diversity and inclusion, flexible working and wellness initiatives of the firm – so you can truly bring your whole self to work.

Everyone in the team brings something slightly different to the table, and we capitalise on that. You spend a lot of your time at work, so I think it is important that you get along with the people you work with. In busy periods, having capable, like-minded and supportive team members makes all the difference.

3. What has been your biggest career highlight to date?

My biggest highlights to date would have to be my promotion to Senior Associate in July 2018 and my promotion to Special Counsel earlier this year. Both promotions were  a culmination of a lot of hard work, determination and the continual support of my partners. It was very rewarding to see that hard work pay off and be recognised by the firm.    

4. How would you describe Jeff and Chris’s leadership styles?  

Chris and Jeff are both great partners to work for – I wouldn’t be here almost 10 years later otherwise. 

In terms of leadership styles, they both allow me to work relatively autonomously, and we have a pretty flat team structure. I am responsible for all aspects of my own files, and have been for some time now, with direct supervision from Chris or Jeff.

Chris and Jeff have also taken an active interest in my personal development, ensuring that I am challenged at work, and that I have opportunities to grow and progress as a lawyer. We have regular catch ups to map out my professional goals and the next step in my career.     

5. What do you enjoy about your working in the Financial Restructuring & Insolvency team at Norton Rose Fulbright? 

I enjoy the variety of work in financial restructuring & insolvency. It’s great to be able to work across a mixture of litigious, advisory and transactional matters in a market leading team.

The team has significant experience in complex, cross-border and domestic restructuring and insolvency matters. Jeff is admitted to practice in New York (as well as Australia) and leveraging off his US experience, we regularly assist lenders and large corporate groups with US and other cross-border operations in connection with their credit risk and enhancement options and general operational restructuring. I’ve recently been involved in two matters advising domestic clients in relation to the impact of counterparties filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which has been very interesting. It’s great to have the opportunity to work with people in offices across Norton Rose Fulbright’s global network on such matters.

In addition, I really enjoy the strategy and Court appearances involved in our insolvency advisory work and banking litigation files. We regularly advise on the validity and enforceability of security interests under the PPSA, and specialise in the enforcement of rights in connection with commercially sensitive matters. Recently, I assisted with a suite of successful proceedings acting for the former administrators of Tiger Resources Limited – a (formerly) ASX-listed company with a copper project in the DRC. Tiger’s restructure involved a competitive bid process and 10 Supreme Court and Court of Appeal proceedings (one of which remains ongoing).