As a founder and now Chair of Gilbert + Tobin, I have had the privilege of watching this firm grow from an idea into an institution.
Each year, I am reminded that our success is never inevitable - it is earned, built, and shaped by the extraordinary people who have chosen to join us.
This year has been one of continued growth and financial strength. We have performed at the highest level, advising on matters that influence industries, markets, and even the direction of our nation.
A Year That Tested and Revealed Our Character
But this year was not only marked by our success.
On Sunday 14 December 2025, our year was marked by a moment that demands something far deeper than simply reflecting on our firm and our success.
The chilling terror attack at Bondi has profoundly affected us all. The Jewish community, the Jewish people who work at G+T, the Muslim community, the Muslim people who work at G+T and, indeed, all Australians.
This devastating and shocking moment in our history calls on us to think with sensitivity and care about how we respond to conflict beyond our shores when it manifests itself here on our own shores. It calls on us to think deeply about how we relate to our fellow Australians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, each with their own heritage and family experiences.
As I said in my early morning email on Monday, this moment demands our strongest and most unequivocal condemnation of antisemitism, and indeed of all forms of racial, ethnic, and religious discrimination.
These differences between us are not some irregularity. They are but qualities that we as a nation should proudly celebrate.
I believe each and every one of us must look within ourselves and challenge our own belief systems and values when it comes to these issues.
We are all charged with the responsibility of speaking out against antisemitism and racism whenever we encounter it - whether it is overt or cloaked in behaviours and language that attempt to disguise its foul truth, particularly in this moment of antisemitism – a form of discrimination which has its own insidious history and character.
It is my strong view that all good people of moral character must call out discrimination and racism whether it occurs in one-to-one interactions or in large organisations, such as Gilbert + Tobin. And, let’s face it, we all know it when we see it. We can smell it.
Thank you to the many people here at G+T who have responded to the Bondi shootings with care, concern and solidarity.
I have always believed that the true measure of a firm is not only how it performs in prosperous times but how it responds in times of pain. In the face of tragedy, our people have demonstrated humanity, compassion, and unity. Those qualities cannot be written into strategy documents - they live in the character of each person who walks through our doors every day.
Who We Are at Our Core
Over the years, I have seen the legal profession evolve, markets transform, and technology reshape the way we work.
These changes are coming at us more powerfully than ever. But some things must never change. We must stand for values that are foundational not only to our firm but to the rule of law itself:
integrity
independence
fairness; and
respect for the diversity of what it is to be human.
I hope these values have guided our firm from its earliest days. That they have helped shape our culture, driven our decisions, and defined our reputation.
And they are the reason why, in moments of crisis - whether national or personal - people look to lawyers for clarity, courage, and conscience.
Australia’s Place in the World - And Ours
Our achievements are not simply professional milestones; they reflect Australia’s expanding role on the world stage - confident, connected, ambitious.
And as Australia rises, so does Gilbert + Tobin.
Australia’s voice is becoming more influential globally, and our work increasingly reflects that. We are advising on global transactions, cross-border disputes, transformative technologies, and issues that will define the next decade.
We have proven - time and again - that an Australian firm can sit confidently at the international table. Not as an observer, but as a leader.
And I say this not with pride alone, but with deep gratitude for those who have built this capability with care and expertise.
Looking Ahead - With Conviction and Purpose
I look toward the future with enormous confidence - not because I believe the world will become simpler, but because I know the people of this firm will meet complexity with clarity, resilience, and imagination.
Next year will bring new challenges. It will bring new opportunities. And it will require from us the same qualities we saw throughout this year:
courage in uncertainty
humanity in adversity; and
excellence in everything we do.
But I have no doubt - we are ready.
So, my thanks to you all.
Thank you for your friendships , your dedication, your integrity, and your unwavering belief in what this firm can be.
Happy Christmas and here’s to a new year of purpose, progress, and shared strength.
Thank you.
Danny Gilbert
17 December 2025
