The race between UK firms to embed themselves in the Australian market is well and truly on. Norton Rose announced this week that it was taking on four partners into its Brisbane and Sydney offices. And Holman Fenwick Willan is rumoured to be looking into opening a new office in Perth.
Norton Rose has bolstered its presence by pulling one partner out of retirement and poaching two others from Mallesons and Dibbs Barker. The fourth is Robert Milbourne, currently general counsel at mining company Vale Pty Ltd. A spokesman for the firm said "the addition of these four partners reflect the demand from clients and our strategy. Norton Rose Australia is currently aligning its business with that of the worldwide Norton Rose Group practice. All these four appointments demonstrate the synergy that we anticipated and have now clearly started to realise".
Meanwhile The Lawyer reported that Holman Fenwick Willan was considering opening a Perth office in the next twelve months. The firm already has offices in Melbourne and Sydney. A spokesman told RollOnFriday that the firm was always looking to expand its overseas network, "and Asia / Pacific is a key area, but it's too early to talk about specific offices".
Given Allen & Overy's shock entry into the Australian market last month, this trend can only benefit Australian associates, who should have greater opportunities to work with international law firms and should see their salaries start to rise as competition intensifies. And the opportunity to cheer Australia on to an Ashes victory next summer from the luxury of a UK law firm corporate box? Priceless.
Tip Off ROF
Norton Rose has bolstered its presence by pulling one partner out of retirement and poaching two others from Mallesons and Dibbs Barker. The fourth is Robert Milbourne, currently general counsel at mining company Vale Pty Ltd. A spokesman for the firm said "the addition of these four partners reflect the demand from clients and our strategy. Norton Rose Australia is currently aligning its business with that of the worldwide Norton Rose Group practice. All these four appointments demonstrate the synergy that we anticipated and have now clearly started to realise".
Meanwhile The Lawyer reported that Holman Fenwick Willan was considering opening a Perth office in the next twelve months. The firm already has offices in Melbourne and Sydney. A spokesman told RollOnFriday that the firm was always looking to expand its overseas network, "and Asia / Pacific is a key area, but it's too early to talk about specific offices".
 |
Some poached partners yesterday |
Given Allen & Overy's shock entry into the Australian market last month, this trend can only benefit Australian associates, who should have greater opportunities to work with international law firms and should see their salaries start to rise as competition intensifies. And the opportunity to cheer Australia on to an Ashes victory next summer from the luxury of a UK law firm corporate box? Priceless.