Chantille Khoury, Principal at Law Partners, which is Australia’s largest specialist personal injury firm, has built a distinguished career advocating for injured workers. Chantille’s journey began during her studies at Macquarie University, where she pursued a Bachelor of Commerce and Law while working in commercial law and briefly at defendant law firms. It was during this time that Chantille realised her calling wasn’t in representing insurers but in standing up for individuals who had been unjustly denied compensation.
This revelation led her to join Law Partners 15 years ago, a pivotal decision that aligned her career with her passion for advocacy. From the outset, Chantille focused on achieving exceptional outcomes for her clients, earning trust and recognition for her dedication. Early in her tenure, she was entrusted to lead the workers compensation team, a role she embraced with enthusiasm and determination. Starting as a small team of three, they worked collaboratively to set a standard of excellence. Today, Law Partners has grown into Australia’s largest specialist personal injury law firm, a testament to their shared vision and hard work.
Chantille’s approach to her career and life is deeply holistic. She believes that to deliver her best at work, she must prioritise her physical and mental well-being. Outside of work, Chantille maintains a structured routine that focuses on health, nutrition, and physical activity. This balance ensures she remains energised and present, enabling her to lead her team and support her clients effectively. She encourages others to discover their unique rhythms and embrace practices that enhance their well-being and performance. Chantille’s philosophy underscores the importance of balance in achieving professional success and personal fulfillment. Through her work at Law Partners, she continues to make a profound impact on the lives of those she represents, embodying her commitment to justice and holistic living.
Fostering Individual Success
As a leader, Chantille recognises the importance of investing in her own growth and professional development. She stays attuned to changes in the legal landscape by attending the latest seminars in her field and keeping abreast of key legislative amendments. This commitment ensures she remains at the forefront of her profession, providing her team and clients with the most up-to-date expertise.
In her leadership approach, Chantille prioritises understanding the unique goals and motivations of her team members. By fostering strong relationships, she aims to help her team achieve their individual career aspirations. She sees them as the next generation of leadership and understands that the firm’s future success is in their hands.
When reflecting on what is lacking in leadership today, Chantille notes a recurring challenge among women: a tendency to be overly critical of themselves, which can undermine confidence. Additionally, she observes that some leaders lose sight of the part of their role which provides service to their teams, focusing instead on issuing directives. For Chantille, true leadership lies in inspiring others, providing a clear vision, and embodying humility and guidance.
These principles—empathy, service, and excellence in client care—are deeply embedded in the culture of Law Partners. Chantille actively promotes these values, ensuring they remain integral to the firm’s ethos and its approach to leadership.
Leadership with Purpose
Chantille’s day-to-day responsibilities at Law Partners reflect her dedication to operational excellence and client care. As a Principal and Practice Group Leader, she oversees the largest specialist workers’ compensation team in New South Wales (NSW). Her leadership extends beyond team management, encompassing firm-wide operational duties and participation in the senior leadership team. Chantille plays an integral role in shaping Law Partners’ business strategy, mission, and vision while actively contributing to its growth and future direction. Additionally, as a board member, she continuously seeks innovative ways to enhance the firm’s operations and ensure sustainable success.
Chantille’s leadership philosophy centers on the importance of helping others and fostering a thriving, supportive community. Chantille believes, “A little bit of help to someone in need goes a very long way.” This guiding principle not only drives her approach to client care but also informs how she interacts with her team, colleagues, friends, and family. She views this ethos as universal, fostering a positive ecosystem that benefits everyone involved.
Under Chantille’s guidance, Law Partners thrives as a firm that not only provides exceptional client service but also cultivates a workplace culture of compassion, collaboration, and growth.
Driving Positive Change
Chantille emphasises three key areas for improvement in society, the legal industry, and people’s lives:
- Addressing Socio-Economic Inequities: Chantille believes society often favors the wealthy, who enjoy better access to resources and networking opportunities. She advocates for breaking down these barriers and creating more equitable systems. At Law Partners, much of her work aims to support individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds, ensuring they have access to justice and resources to navigate their challenges.
- Promoting Kindness and Humanity: Chantille observes that modern society, influenced by social media and increasing distractions, has become more self-absorbed and agitated. She stresses the importance of reclaiming humanity by embracing kindness, empathy, and healthy communication. Chantille envisions a world where cooperation and compassion are prioritised, helping to ease anxiety and foster deeper connections.
- Encouraging Self-Awareness and Care: Chantille underscores the importance of self-reflection, understanding one’s triggers, and making healthier choices. She believes that by focusing on internal growth through self-care and contemplation, individuals can improve their interactions and relationships. This inward work creates ripple effects, leading to greater empathy, understanding, and harmony in society.
Through these principles, Chantille strives to inspire positive change, both in her professional life and beyond, fostering a more just, kind, and self-aware world.
Balancing Career and Family
Chantille reflects on the greatest career risk she took nearly 20 years ago: choosing to take maternity leave to care for her oldest child. At the time, it was common for professionals in her industry to quickly return to work and place their children in daycare, fearing that extended leave might harm their careers. Chantille, however, made the bold decision to pause her work for a while to prioritise her family.
Though she initially worried about losing her job, she found that the experience significantly enriched her professional skills. Upon returning to work, she discovered that her time away had taught her invaluable lessons in time management and balance, making her a more efficient and effective professional.
Chantille is proud to see that attitudes in the legal industry have since evolved, with greater acceptance and support for parental leave. She views her own journey as a testament to how personal decisions, even those perceived as risks, can ultimately enhance one’s career and personal growth.
Commitment to Female Leadership and Inclusion at Law Partners
As a female leader, Chantille takes pride in the progressive strides Law Partners has made in promoting female talent within the firm. At one point, around 70% of the staff were women, a remarkable figure in an industry where such representation is uncommon. Chantille highlights the importance of true diversity in leadership and shares that Law Partners has consciously worked to promote more female leaders over the years. She believes diversity isn’t just about representation; it also makes good economic sense. However, she believes a workplace balanced across genders and cultures fosters well-rounded perspectives and supports balanced, well-evaluated decision-making. For Chantille, embracing diversity in all forms is a key driver of innovation and organisational success.
Career Wisdom
Chantille’s advice for those embarking on their careers is rooted in self-awareness, effort, and confidence:
- Know Yourself Inside Out: Understanding your strengths, weaknesses, and passions is key to navigating your career with purpose and authenticity.
- Give Your Best in All You Do: Approaching every task with effort and dedication not only builds your skills but also establishes a reputation for reliability and excellence.
- Back Yourself: Confidence in your abilities will help you tackle challenges and seize opportunities.
Chantille acknowledges that starting out means encountering unknowns, particularly about the industry. She encourages newcomers to absorb and reflect on new learnings, embrace curiosity by asking questions, and confidently propose innovative ideas. You might stumble upon something transformative, she says, underscoring the value of a fresh perspective and proactive mindset.
