Gilbert + Tobin


Gilbert + Tobin is an Australian law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. It provides legal services to corporate and government clients across Australia and internationally, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region.
Established in 1988 by Danny Gilbert and Tony Tobin, the firm employs more than 600 people, and has one of the highest proportions of female partners of any major Australian law firm.
The firm is a foundation signatory to the National Pro Bono Aspirational Target.
Gilbert + Tobin was named the Most Innovative Law Firm headquartered in the Asia-Pacific and Australia in 2017 by the Financial Times. In 2016, it was awarded Law Firm of the Year by Lawyers Weekly and was named Australian Law Firm of the Year at the Australasian Law Awards.
In 2000, Danny Gilbert agreed to support a centre for public law at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, and in 2001 the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law was founded. It functions as a research centre specialising in constitutional and administrative law, Indigenous legal issues, and human rights.

Criticism

Gilbert + Tobin have been criticized for treatment and pressures placed on staff. Safework NSW has investigated Gilbert + Tobin twice relating to complaints it received regarding workplace fatigue, hours worked by staff and allegations lawyers slept in their offices 60-80 nights per year. Danny Gilbert, the managing partner was also criticized for making controversial statements related to the Safework investigation and justifying the work hours of lawyers within Gilbert + Tobin. Other law firm managing partners have criticized and distanced themselves from his comments.