Adam Colquhoun, Principal
Adam has more than 15 years’ experience helping employers navigate complex workplace relations problems. During this time, Adam has worked Mills Oakley, Kliger Partners (now KCL Law), and Velocity Legal.
Early in his career while studying law, Adam worked at the Victorian Farmers’ Federation, the Australian Retailers’ Association and a mid-tier law firm. He has also worked for VECCI (now the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and its (then) law firm, CCI Lawyers.
Adam’s varied experience reflects his approach:
“I enjoy thinking outside the box and finding solutions where there appears to be none. As I often say to my staff – there is a solution, and it’s our job to find it”.
In early 2017, Adam went out on his own. And so WestmoreJacobs was born.
In 2021, Adam received some tough health news. Treatment included surgery, in which he lost over 50% of his tongue. As a result, Adam’s speech is impaired. Most people understand about 80%-90% of his speech. Adam’s regular clients understand just about everything. Treatment was successful.
Adam’s clients include large employers with over 2000 plus staff, medium enterprises between 200 to 600 employees, and professional service firms of 20 staff or less. He has strong experience in the care sectors (disability care, aged care, childcare and social and community services) in addition to the building and construction industry.
“Around 60% of my work comes from these industries. While they may seem unrelated, both require hands-on experience, which I have. They also require a nuanced approach in which several competing, albeit completely different, factors must be considered and balanced in order to achieve the best result.”
Outside of work, Adam is a proud member of the Pajero Club. He enjoys camping, four-wheel driving, and visiting regional Australia.
Jolin Chao, Law Clerk
Jolin is a Juris Doctor candidate at Melbourne Law School (University of Melbourne). She enjoys legal research and its application to technical legal problems. Jolin has contributed to helping WestmoreJacobs resolve several challenging matters for clients.
Earlier in her study at law school, Jolin volunteered at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. This was where Jolin gained valuable first-hand experience dealing with clients and court users.
She is an active listener with great attention-to-detail skills. She believes communication is important to facilitate and maintain a positive working relationship.
Outside of work and study, Jolin enjoys reading, hiking, and watching crime thrillers.
Jacklyn Dacalos, Executive Assistant/Operations Manager
Jacklyn Dacalos, Executive Assistant/ Operations Manager
Jacklyn is a University graduate of Elementary Education, earning Cum Laude honors. She pursued a Master of Arts in Education with a focus on Guidance and Counseling, which she paused due to the COVID-19 restrictions. She loves learning new things. She believes that “learning is a lifelong process”.
While studying for her master’s degree, she also studied the Japanese language and served as a Japanese instructor for three years, while also being an English teacher for seven years.
She is currently the Operations Manager for WestmoreJacobs. She believes that having effective time management skills is crucial for overseeing daily activities and ensuring smooth workflow.
Outside of work, she enjoys making arts and crafts, such as watercolor painting and, more recently, clay sculpting. She also plays the guitar and loves watching horror and detective movies.