APAC Insider- Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2025 | 21 AIM-Jun25101 Australia’s leading and most loved family law firm, Unified Lawyers has been changing the industry one client a time by nurturing the kinds of personal connections that the larger firms simply cannot match. Having worked according to this principle for more than ten years, Unified Lawyers has gone from a local firm with no customers, connections, nor prospects to one of the fastest-growing law firms in Sydney today. Mark Machaalani, the firm’s co-founder and CEO, caught up with us for more on this tale of overcoming the odds to do things better. The year was 2013, and Mark Machaalani, alongside lifelong friend and trusted business partner Dominic Nguyen, made the decision to start a law firm of his own. Mark and Dominic had both worked for many years at large corporate firms and although they knew the work they were doing was good, they could not help but feel like something was missing. They put this down to these larger firms being obsessed with billing clients and driving sales, often to the detriment of the experience they provide. Seeking to balance financial success with the simplification of legal jargon, Unified Lawyers was created on the back of an obsession to drive client success and nurture win-win relationships. Even today, more than ten years later, the firm – which specialises in family law – is guided by a relentless focus on empathy, clarity, and a client-first service. As Mark told us: “We’re known for being approachable and responsive, driven by our longstanding vision to change how people experience legal support.” “Whether it’s divorce, child arrangements, property settlements, or emotional support through change, we guide clients through difficult times with genuine care.” As the man at the helm of Unified Lawyers, Mark is responsible for upholding both its values – compassion, transparency, and professionalism – and a culture that puts the client experience first. Mark ensures that every company-wide decision reflects this commitment, be it through structured support, responsive communication, or just plainEnglish guidance. The diverse background Mark has in the field, combined with his nearly 20 years of experience, make him the perfect person to set the tone. This tone, which Mark described as “care and clarity in every interaction”, sees every client journey begin with empathy and a real attention to the specifics of their situation. Listening first and acting second, members of the team here all pride themselves on an ability to guide people step by step. The consistency of this support is achieved through a process of rigorous staff training, with Unified Lawyers’ overarching goal for its staff being for them all to reflect the firm’s high standards whilst always putting clients first. Unified Lawyers’ unfaltering dedication to client service can be seen further through what is now a decade-long initiative to create easy-to-understand, SEO-driven online content. This means that whenever someone searches the web for family-law help, they are more likely to come across readable, trustworthy information and a clear path to support laid out by these family lawyers in Sydney. The firm’s streamlined intake and transparent pricing structures are then further examples of its unrivalled diligence. Exploring this further, Mark told us: “We’ve noticed growing demand for affordable and fixed‑fee advice, a digital-first intake, and an empathetic service. We’ve responded with transparent offers, quick turnaround, and accessible content. Clients want legal support that’s straightforward, modern, and humane, and that’s exactly what we aim to provide.” As we enter the second half of 2025, Unified Lawyers’ commitment to this is stronger than ever, seen through both its imminent and more longer-term plans. Looking ahead, Unified Lawyers aims to deepen its focus on complex family-law matters, parenting disputes, and property settlements. Alongside this, it will continue to refine its marketingto-intake automation and bolster its client-first culture. With AI and similar technologies also improving, the team are exploring new ways to integrate these into their services, in the process working towards the ultimate aim of Unified Lawyers solidifying its status as the best family lawyer in New South Wales. Given Mark Machaalani’s servantleader approach, which sees all the barriers cleared so that his people can deliver, this goal is closer than ever. Mark’s success as CEO is not only seen through his recognition with this award, but also in the company’s Glassdoor ratings, where leadership is consistently rated highly and Mark has a 100% approval rating. This is the icing on the cake of a career that has brought innovation to the field of family and divorce law in Sydney and beyond, making this CEO worthy of acclaim. Contact: Mark Machaalani Company: Unified Lawyers Web Address: https://www. unifiedlawyers.com.au/ Most Innovative Family Law CEO 2025 (New South Wales): Mark Machaalani
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