Melissa Sinopoli

2013 Early Career Recipient. College of Business, Law and Governance

Melissa Sinopoli is a Senior Associate in the Commercial and Corporate team of MacDonnells Law, the youngest female in the firm’s 130 year history to achieve such a position, and in 2012 was the youngest recipient of the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland Regional Woman Lawyer of the Year Award.

Born and bred in Cairns, Ms Sinopoli is a graduate of St Monica’s Catholic College and attended both the Cairns and Townsville campuses of James Cook University before joining MacDonnells Law.

Ms Sinopoli practices in the areas of corporate and commercial law and has experience in a variety of commercial matters and has advised small, medium and large businesses, private companies, public companies, not-for-profit organisations, government-owned corporations and local governments in an array of industries. In her legal career she has worked on various complex matters including corporate restructures, syndicated financing arrangements, share capital restructuring, acquisitions and disposal of significant assets and advice in relation to the Personal Property Securities Act.

Ms Sinopoli is a board member of the Australian Institute of Management National Young Managers Advisory Board and Vice-Chairperson of Worklink Inc. Her previous community involvement includes board membership of the FNQ Volunteers Inc, Convenor/Chair of the Cairns CBD Safety Summit (Liquor Accord), a member of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee - Roman Catholic Diocese of Cairns, a member of the committee of Cairns Young Amateurs and a Cairns Community Legal Centre volunteer.

As well as winning the Women in Lawyers Association of  Queensland Regional Woman Lawyer of the Year Award, she was a finalist in the Australia wide Lawyer’s Weekly Women in Law Awards in the“Future Star” category.

Melissa is also the CEO and Founder of a national online law firm referral start up launched in mid 2015 which provides consumers with better choice, transparency and access to legal services.

Updated July 2015