Amber Matthews

She/HerPartner
Country Managing Partner, Australia

I believe in realizing the potential of our people, so they in turn can deliver an exceptional service and experience to our clients.

About
Having been with DLA Piper for almost 25 years, Amber has been an integral part of making it the global success story it is today.

Amber’s strength in recognising opportunities and empowering teams to seize them ensures DLA Piper continues to develop successfully in the future.

This innate skill drives her work ethic and ethos, which is proven throughout her long-standing career with DLA Piper in both London and Australia. Amber’s various roles include being a corporate M&A lawyer, the firm’s international General Counsel and leading the firm’s Legal, Risk Management and Compliance teams.

This wide-ranging experience makes her the natural choice as DLA Piper’s Managing Partner in Australia — allowing her to capitalise on fresh opportunities in all areas of the organisation, for the benefit of our clients and people. She is curious and positive, always keen to listen to new ideas and understand how the firm can continuously improve and evolve to provide an excellent service to our clients.

Amber’s leadership approach is supported by her mantra of putting service above all. She connects with our people in all areas of the business and is widely seen as a genuine ally, someone truly invested in their vision and success.

Amber believes in sharing her time and insights in ways that will benefit others. She is a keen contributor on the Advisory Committee to Macquarie University Law School and promotes health and wellbeing in the legal profession through the firm’s membership of the Corporate Mental Health Alliance, where Amber was previously on the board and continues to participate in mentoring programmes. She also supports charitable organisations such as NASCA, World Vision and Medecins Sans Frontier, who promote a better world for all. She’s driven by a deep sense of fairness and believes in equal opportunities, no matter where you come from.

Amber's resilience, empathy, positivity and 'can-do' attitude define her leadership style. Her understanding nature and empathic qualities not only make her approachable and relatable, but are also an asset for our firm and its clients.
 
Areas of FocusCorporate
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and WalesSolicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales

EXPERIENCE

Prior to her current role as Country Managing Partner in Australia, Amber was the firm's General Counsel for many years, leading the firm's team of in-house lawyers and risk professionals. The responsibilities of the team covered areas such as regulatory compliance, risk management, data privacy, professional claims, corporate structure, conflicts of interest and other client take-on related issues. 

Amber has extensive corporate governance experience from her role as secretary to the International Board over a period of almost 10 years. 
Education

    Awards and recognition

    • DLA Piper Australia recognized in Australasian Lawyer's Employer of Choice rankings, 2020
    • DLA Piper Australia recognized as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality (EOCGE) by the Australian Government's Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA), 2020

    Memberships

    • Chair of DLA Piper’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, Asia-Pacific 
    • Member of DLA Piper’s international Diversity & Inclusion Council 
    • Member of DLA Piper’s Health & Wellbeing Steering Committee 

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