Chris Bates

Chris Bates is a highly accomplished lawyer and Director at KBE Legal Talent, with a unique blend of experience in legal recruitment, business development, and community leadership. With a strong track record of building high-performance teams, Chris has co-founded and led several successful ventures, including The Piddington Society and national insurance brokerage KBI. At KBE Legal Talent, Chris leverages his extensive network to connect ASX-listed companies, multinationals, and leading law firms with Western Australia’s most talented legal professionals. Chris is also the visionary Founder and CEO of Lawmee, a cutting-edge online marketplace that revolutionises how law firms and in-house teams connect with top-tier legal talent. Lawmee offers a seamless platform for engaging lawyers, paralegals, and company secretaries, providing significant cost savings and efficiencies in legal staffing. Throughout his career, Chris has demonstrated a commitment to giving back to the community, as evidenced by his directorship at Parkerville Children & Youth Care, where he contributed to providing therapeutic care for vulnerable children. His expertise in business strategy was further honed through his role at Interpeople, now RFM Global, where he facilitated mergers, acquisitions, and strategic planning for law firms across Australia and internationally. Chris's career is built on a foundation of solid academic credentials, having earned a Bachelor of Law and Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Western Australia. His journey from practising solicitor and tax accountant at Norton & Smailes and KPMG to entrepreneurial leadership showcases his dedication to transforming the legal sector and supporting both lawyers and clients in achieving their best.