AROUND THE TRAPS: November 2016

It’s been a busy time at Jirsch Sutherland as the Christmas break rushes towards everyone. But it hasn’t been all work. As the end of the year approaches, team members have taken time out to catch up with clients in a social setting.

Managing partner Sule Arnautovic says it’s been a great opportunity to thank clients and business partners for their support as well as enjoy their company.

“Building relationships is very important to all of us at Jirsch Sutherland, and we pride ourselves on conducting our business in a professional way that still allows room for a personal approach,” Sule says. “It’s the friendly nature of these relationships that make coming to work a pleasure for us all.”

Sydney lives it up in style

Of course the signature event for the year was the annual client function on Thursday, November 17. This year’s glamorous venue was the Slide Lounge in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst where 250 clients joined the team for a fabulous evening of food, drink and entertainment.

Managing Partner Sule Arnautovic says the venue, inside a converted Art Deco bank building, certainly lived up to its reputation for serving up imaginative and creative showcases within its elegant interior.

“Everyone present was mesmerised by the talents of the aerial performers, who showed off their incredible skills on silks, a sling and hoop,” he says. “Closer to the ground, but no less talented, was a DJ and saxophone duo from The Sincopa Trio as well as a burlesque fan dancer.”

Guests, staff and partners partied in style in the main bar downstairs (complete with LED lit stage for dancing the night away). The upstairs mezzanine, which overlooks the main floor and stage also had a bar as well as lounges to relax on. Canapes were served and the open bar included spirits, so everyone could enjoy the tipple of their choice. “The clients said they had an amazing time, with many of them up on the dance floor,” Sule says. “The only down side to the evening is how we’re going to match it again next year!”.

Fun was par for the course

Twice every year the Sydney team hits the golf course with some of the company’s clients for some fun (or frustration – depending on how seriously you take your game). 78 players teed off at Macquarie Links golf club for 18 holes on September 13. Plenty of balls were lost and lots of laughs were had before they headed into the club’s beautiful new function room for lunch. Winners were grinners, namely Jirsch Sutherland Partner Andrew Spring along with clients Michael Stafford and Stephen Boatswain of Eakin McCaffrey Cox Solicitors and Dan McGrath from WLM Financial Services. Each of them walked away with gift vouchers for a game of golf for two with golf cart hire thrown in.

Melbourne events were a gem

Comedian Elliot Goblet was at his hilarious best for Jirsch Sutherland’s Melbourne client function on September 22. The fabulous rooftop of the Blue Diamond Club was the venue for the event.

Caulfield was awash with colour and, fittingly, glittering with precious gems during Blue Sapphire Stakes Day on October 12. Melbourne partners Glenn Crisp and Malcolm Howell hosted 40 clients at Caulfield. There was plenty of time to catch up over lunch and beverages as well as cheer on the country’s best young sprinters battling it out for the crown of Blue Sapphire champion at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne.

The bookies possibly had the best of Jirsch Sutherland team members and their client guests at the Geelong Cup Day celebration on October 19, but they still had a great time. Everyone pooled funds to have a “table bet” and placed a quaddie, but despite a flurry of selections they were out after the first race leg. There were a couple of small wins and one big moment of excitement as racegoers had the chance to see the Melbourne Cup up close and personal. The famous trophy visited Geelong as part of the Emirates Melbourne Cup Tour. Partner Phil McGibbon had his photo taken with the Cup before everyone partied on into the night at several Geelong pubs.

Melbourne Cup party beats work by a length

Just because team members aren’t in Melbourne doesn’t mean they don’t celebrate the race that stops the nation in style. The Sydney team always does a big Melbourne Cup staff event, and this year was no exception. The new boardroom was decorated to the max in yellow to complement the official Melbourne Cup Flower – yellow rose. There was a yellow sweets buffet with yellow macarons, yellow cupcakes and an assortment of yellow lollies. All this created the perfect atmosphere for devouring the delicious canapes created by Chef Vicki from Urban Cooking Collective, ably assisted by a waiter and bartender as everyone cheered on the horses they drew in the sweep. Unfortunately, no one was a winner on the actual Melbourne Cup race but the sweep winners were Christine Foskett ($5 and $1 sweeps), Caitlin Duffy ($2 sweep 1) and Sule ($2 sweep 2).