Pearce IP has been announced as a 2025 5-Star Employer of Choice for lawyers in Australia and New Zealand by Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer. Pearce IP is also the small firm (<100 employees) “Standout Winner” for Inclusion and Culture.
In 5 Star Employers of Choice, Pearce IP has been recognised as one of 44 of the best law firms to work for across Australia and New Zealand, and has been recognised as the very best for inclusion and culture (<100 employees).
Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer assessed law firms across 11 key areas of the modern employee experience: remuneration, training and professional development, career progression, diversity and inclusion, access to technology and resources, communication, leadership, work-life balance, health and wellbeing, reward and recognition, and recruitment.
Pearce IP is ranked as a stand out for the following:
1) Engagement Above Industry Averages | Across the industry, 43% of legal professionals report being “highly engaged.” 5 Star Employers of Choice reports Pearce IP, as having an engagement score of double the industry average, at 86%.
2) Standing Out in a Competitive Legal Market | The legal sector continues to face challenges with burnout, turnover, and employee engagement. Across the industry only 41% of lawyers feel fairly compensated, two-thirds report burnout and 37% cite clear career progression opportunities. At Pearce IP, our 2025 staff survey paints a very different picture:
- 77% feel appropriately paid and informed about team priorities
- 73% are comfortable with their workload
- 94% feel their work is valued, and
- 100% say they receive clear feedback
- 88% feel supported in their personal development
- 100% confirm they have the resources and policies needed to succeed
We also set realistic expectations, with annual billable hours at ~1,260–1,270, compared to the 1,800–2,200 hours expected at many Australian and overseas firms.
3) Championing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | As a certified women-owned business, 88% of Pearce IP’s workforce is female, with 83% of leadership roles held by women. Australasian Lawyer and NZ Lawyer reports the following statistics for Pearce IP:
- 32% of staff working part-time, reflecting genuine flexibility
- 8% of employees are living with disability
- 24% are culturally and linguistically diverse
- 4% LGBTQI++ representation
This culture of belonging was a key reason Pearce IP was recognised as the small firm “standout winner” for inclusion and culture.
4) Progressive People-First Policies | Pearce IP leads the industry with progressive leave policies, including generous parental leave, miscarriage/loss leave, fertility treatment, surrogacy and adoption leave, menstrual/menopause, and Sorry Business & Tangihanga Leave. Combined with our “work from anywhere” model and active encouragement to take leave to prevent burnout, and confidential EAP program, these policies focus on the wellbeing of our people.
5) Communication and Recognition | Through initiatives like our intranet, regular Naomi’s Notes, monthly individual and team incentives, monthly and annual “BRITE Beam” peer recognition, staff surveys and annual retreats, every voice is heard and every success is celebrated.
6) Outperforming Industry Averages on Turnover and Tenure | Pearce IP turnover was reported as well below the average of the 5 star employers of choice winners across all categories [small firms (16%), medium firms (18%) and large firms (19%)] and significantly below the national average of 23%.
Naomi Pearce, Pearce IP’s CEO says:
“A people-first culture drives lasting success. I am extremely proud to offer a workplace where individuals thrive, differences are celebrated, and careers are nurtured, and to see Pearce IP recognised as a legal 5 Star Employer of Choice. I commend our Head of People and Deputy CEO Adele Chadwick for her leadership and support in building and preserving the values based culture of Pearce IP.”
About Pearce IP
Pearce IP is a boutique firm offering intellectual property specialist lawyers, patent attorneys and trade mark attorneys to the pharmaceutical, biopharmaceutical and life sciences industries. Pearce IP is the 2021 ‘Intellectual Property Team of the Year’ (Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards) and was shortlisted for the same award in 2022. Pearce IP is ranked in IAM Patent 1000 and Managing IP (MIP) IP Stars, in Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards as a ‘5 Star’ firm, and the Legal 500 APAC Guide for Intellectual Property. Pearce IP leaders are well recognised as leading IP practitioners.
Our leaders have been recognised in virtually every notable IP listing for their legal, patent and trade mark excellence including: IAM Patent 1000, IAM Strategy 300, MIP IP Stars, Doyles Guide, WIPR Leaders, 5 Star IP Lawyers, Women in Law Awards – Partner of the Year, Best Lawyers and Australasian Lawyer 5 Star Awards, Women in Business Law Awards – Patent Lawyer of the Year (Asia Pacific), Most Influential Lawyers (Changemaker), among other awards.