Joanne Rees

Joanne Rees is the Chief Executive Officer of Allygroup, the legal advisory firm she founded in 2007. With a legal career dating back to 1981, Joanne has extensive experience as both a barrister and solicitor, having held partner and managing partner roles in leading Australian law firms. Her background also includes positions with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, where she managed major corporate litigation, and senior leadership roles in a big four accounting firm and government advisory committees. This diverse experience has given her a deep understanding of the lawyer–client relationship and the challenges in delivering legal services effectively. Joanne’s approach to legal project management was shaped by managing high-profile litigation under tight budgets and schedules, leading her to develop innovative models that combine in-house counsel with external resources strategically. This approach has consistently delivered strong results while achieving significant cost savings. Upon returning to private practice, she refined these techniques to help legal teams provide more efficient, client-focused service. Recognising the need for clients to drive change in legal service delivery, she established Allygroup to advise organisations on optimising value from their legal spend. As CEO of Allygroup, Joanne takes a strategic and relationship-centred approach to legal project management, focusing on a client’s definition of success rather than imposing additional processes. She guides clients in developing practical strategies to achieve their goals while ensuring cost effectiveness. Joanne’s work helps Australian and international clients improve collaboration with their legal providers and set new benchmarks for effective legal service delivery.