DLA Piper Loses 6 Canberra Partners to HWL Ebsworth

Jessica Seah All Articles

The Asian Lawyer

May 12, 2011

DLA Piper has lost six partners in Canberra, leaving the firm's office in the Australian capital with just two partners.

The lawyers are joining HWL Ebsworth Lawyers in August to open the firm's Canberra office, the Australian firm announced on Monday. The departures come in the wake of DLA Piper's merger with DLA Phillips Fox, which has already seen 10 partners leave the firm for smaller rivals.

The departure dates of the partners -- Richard Garnett, Lex Holcombe, Stuart Imrie, George Marques, Melanie McKean and Michael Will -- have yet to be confirmed.

They advise public sector clients on issues including negligence claims, workers' compensation, freedom of information, statutory interpretation, administrative law, public liability, product liability and workplace relations.

In a statement, DLA Piper said that the partners have indicated that while they agree integration was the best course of action for the Australian firm, they do not wish to be part of a global business law firm.

With the departures, the firm will have 106 partners in Australia. Its Canberra office will be left with two partners, Anthony Willis and Caroline Atkins.

HWL Ebsworth also announced on Monday it has hired former Mallesons Stephen Jaques senior partner Joe Montano as a partner in the firm's banking and financial services practice in Sydney. Montano specializes in funds management work. He also advises on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures.

The seven new additions will take HWL Ebsworth's total partners to 122 across its offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Norwest, New South Wales. The firm has been on a hiring spree this year. Over the past four months, it has taken on laterals from Australia's largest firms including Allens Arthur Robinson, Mallesons and Freehills.

The moves come amid a shift in strategy among Australia's largest firms that has seen a number of partners switch to midsized practices in recent months.

DLA Phillips Fox's merger with DLA Piper has led to a boon for smaller firms. Thomsons Lawyers took on nine partners from the firm's Brisbane office in March. Sydney's Moray & Agnew hired DLA Phillips Fox insurance partner Peter Tredinnick and his team of associates in the same month.

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