Melbourne firm appoints chief executive

John Chisholm takes up the newly created role at Middletons after spending 21 years at Maddocks - a firm his grandfather helped found in 1939.

Chisholm's father, Don, is still with the medium-sized Australian firm after 45 years of service Chisholm is charged with introducing a new management strategy that will blend the cultures of three law firms into one: Middletons has merged with Melbourne firms Molomby & Molomby and Coltmans Price Brent to create a 100-lawyer practice in the past 18 months.

Chisholm will also revamp Middletons's client base, intensify the firm's business development focus and look to South-East Asia for opportunities.