John Chisholm is a third generation lawyer who has held senior executive positions in leading Australian legal and accounting firms for more than 17 years, transforming them into market leaders in their fields. He is recognised for his management, leadership and visionary skills, as well as his ability to think outside the square.
John established his own consultancy, John Chisholm Consulting, in 2005 to share his expertise and experience with organisations looking to maximise their business performance. Whilst he understands how professional firms operate he is continually challenging firms and the professions generally to look at better ways of doing things, investigate new business models and be more innovative.
Examples of this are John’s leading advocacy to move all professional firms away from pricing their services solely by time and to eradicate the outdated and obsolete partnership model.
John’s experience in professional practice includes strategy,business and financial planning, people management, new business development, client relationship management, performance management and pricing in professional firms.
As part of his consultancy practice John was part-time Executive Chairman of the Melbourne practice of PKF Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors from 2006-2008 guiding them through a full financial integration with PKF Sydney and Brisbane.
During his years as Chief Executive of Middletons from 1999-2004, John drove a national agenda that saw the firm expand into a fully integrated national partnership and leading commercial law firm.
John was an effective agent for change. He led the integration of three Melbourne firms to create Middletons and subsequently presided over the acquisition and integration of two Sydney law firms.
John was a partner for 18 years at Maddocks including 8 of those as Managing Partner. During this time, the firm transformed from Victoria’s pre-eminent local government law firm into a successful and innovative mid-tier full service firm.
John was admitted to practise as a Barrister & Solicitor in 1979, and practised principally in commercial and property law.
He is a member of the Law Council of Australia, the Law Institute of Victoria, the Australian Legal Practice Management Association and is also a member of the Verasage Institute, an international think tank devoted to professional firm pricing,leadership and strategy.
John is a regular contributor and commentator to various publications including the legal press and numerous blogs and a sought after speaker and presenter at industry events. He sits on several boards and committees and is a trainer for the Leo Cussen Institute.
He and Karen have been married for over 30 years and have four beautiful grown up children. Outside family John’s major interests are friends, food and wine, painting & drawing caricatures, travel, Australian Rules Football (especially Geelong Football Club and Ormond Amateur Football Club) and spending time at Point Lonsdale.
