Australia's leading banks appoint new legal heads

Two of Australia’s largest banks, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and ANZ, today announced the appointment of new general counsel.
Commonwealth Bank has scored Freehills corporate partner John O’Sullivan as group general counsel to take over the top legal role when former head Les Taylor retires later this year.
O’Sullivan, a partner at Freehills since 1983, has been an external adviser to the bank for some time. He previously advised on its acquisition of the State Bank of Victoria and the Colonial Group, as well as on the Commonwealth Bank’s privatisation.
Meanwhile, ANZ has hired Allens Arthur Robinson’s litigation and dispute resolution head Tim L’Estrange to take on its top legal role. L’Estrange will become group general counsel in July, following the resignation of Jane Slatter, who is moving to the US.
Litigation specialist L’Estrange was formerly a managing partner of Allen Allen & Hemsley, has served on the board of AAR, and is currently a board member of the Australian Centre of International Commercial Arbitration.