About

Ian Aldridge

Founder & Principal Lawyer

After 12 years practising as a litigation lawyer for small, medium and large firms in Australia and the UK, Ian returned to Australia disillusioned with the way Law was being practiced at all levels, especially for small business.

While mixing with a bunch of entrepreneurs and small business owners, he found out very quickly that the advice they were receiving was either wrong or too expensive, but mainly both!

The feedback he got was that people would rather go to a dentist than see a Lawyer.

Progressive Legal was born (2014), and changed the way legal services are provided in Australia, by building Legal Shield™, a legal subscription to obtain tailored legal documents immediately and pay over time.

View Ian’s capability statement here.

Sonal Moore

Senior Lawyer & Trade Mark Consultant

Sonal is a highly experienced and respected Senior Lawyer & Trade Mark Consultant for Progressive Legal.

She is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading IP experts with over 35 years’ experience in the Intellectual Property arena, covering both commercial and litigious matters.

She publishes a weekly newsletter called Personalised IP, which examines Intellectual Property disputes in Australia and overseas decisions which may impact Australia.

She is also a lecturer at the University of Technology Sydney teaching the Trade Mark and Copyright Course.

View Sonal’s capability statement here.

Riet van den Ende

Trade Mark Attorney

Riet is a Trade Mark Attorney with nearly 10 years’ experience of working in the legal sector, with a particular focus on all areas of trade mark law.

She has completed a Bachelor of Law and Master of Criminal Law in the Netherlands before moving to Australia in 2017.

Riet is admitted to the Trans-Tasman IP Attorney’s Board as a Registered Trade Mark Attorney in Australia and is a member of the Intellectual Property Society of Australia and New Zealand.

View Riet’s capability statement here.

Nikita Chikohwa

Commercial Lawyer

Nikita Chikohwa is a Lawyer at Progressive Legal with 8 years of experience in the Legal sector.

She is adept at providing strategic legal counsel and resolving complex legal issues for businesses. Nikita is passionate about developing meaningful relationships with clients and is committed to delivering a client-first approach to her legal practice.

Nikita provides support for Corporate, Workplace and Commercial matters. Nikita prides herself on being able to offer innovative and forward-thinking solutions to her clients.

Outside of the law, Nikita is involved in a charitable organisation in Zimbabwe which supports an orphanage of young children.

View Nikita’s capability statement here.

Zeinab Farhat

Lawyer

Zeinab is a Junior Lawyer with demonstrable experience working across a wide range of matters and assisting Senior Lawyers. She has extensive experience in intellectual property (including trade mark and copyright infringement), dispute resolution and commercial law.

Zeinab has a passion for assisting clients in achieving the best possible outcomes, and enjoys guiding them along the way.

Jacob Grumetza

Lawyer and Trade Mark Associate

As a skilled Lawyer and Trade Mark Associate, Jacob brings a wealth of experience to the table.

His commitment to staying abreast of the latest legal trends ensures that clients receive informed and strategic legal advice.

Drawing upon an extensive understanding of both domestic and international trade mark laws, he offers strategic guidance to clients spanning diverse industries.

Jacob has earned academic excellence with a Bachelor of Law from Bond University and is at the intersection of legal excellence and client-focused values.

View Jacob’s capability statement here.

Ana Henao Lopez

Paralegal

Ana is a paralegal with more than 4 years of experience in intellectual property law, including trade marks and design applications, both domestic and international.

She studied a Bachelor of Laws in Colombia before moving to Australia in 2019.

Ana speaks four languages, offering extra value in assisting clients in their international matters.

Marcos Fontes

Junior Lawyer

Marcos is a Junior Lawyer at Progressive Legal. He is a dual-qualified lawyer admitted to practice in both Brazil and Australia, with 5 years of experience in corporate and commercial law, and dispute resolution in Brazil.

He also brings over 5 years of event management experience in Australia, where he developed strong skills in project management, client relations, and strategic planning.

Marcos’ unique background in both legal practice and event management allows him to offer a practical solution tailored to meet the strategic needs of business owners.

Milena Molina

Practice Manager

Milena has over 9 years of legal industry experience, working as a practice manager and personal assistant for boutique law firms in Sydney’s CBD.

She assists with client management and understands the challenges met by small business owners, as she previously co-owned an award-winning Darlinghurst restaurant/cocktail bar.

Milena is currently undertaking the LPAB’s Diploma of Law and is a great support to our growing team of solicitors.

Petro Kaloterakis

Digital Marketing Coordinator

Petro, a forward-thinking Digital Marketing Coordinator at Progressive Legal, channels a passion for adapting legal practices to the constantly evolving online and technology-driven environment.

Through SEO, website enhancement, and comprehensive digital marketing strategies, Petro blends legal knowledge with digital expertise, catalysing the firm’s growth with a dynamic skill set.

Ashley Rose

Executive Assistant

Ashley joined the team in 2021. She has worked as an executive assistant in Law firms for more than 6 years during her career and she’s the first point of contact for new clients at Progressive Legal. Ashley’s people and communication skills are a credit to our team, and we are thankful to have her aboard.

Sera Aran

Legal Client Success Specialist

Sera is dedicated, eager, and determined. She’s currently completing a double degree of Arts and Law at UTS. She is passionate about SMEs and assisting our clients identifying their legal needs.

Sophie Vorburger

Finance Manager

Sophie is our Finance Manager. She helps with Finance and Marketing in the business.

After starting with the management of our social media pages in 2018, she expanded her skills to digital marketing generally and finances as a bookkeeper.

She’s a great support to the team and ready to assist clients with any query they may have.

Bree McIntyre

Business Development Manager

Bree is a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in Client Services, Sales & Marketing, and Recruitment across diverse industries, including her transition into Legal Services.

With exceptional ability to cultivate and nurture client relationships, Bree goes above and beyond to understand client needs and deliver tailored solutions.

From forging strong connections to providing excellent support, her dedication to client satisfaction sets her apart.

Marshall Thurlow

SEO Consultant

Marshall is the founder and small business developer at Orion Marketing.