Global firm nabs 5 partners from NRF
A global firm has recruited five partners from Norton Rose Fulbright for its Australian corporate practice.
Partners Shane Bilardi, James Stewart, Jyoti Singh, Chris Mitchell and Andrew Fisken have been named as joining DLA Piper over the coming months.
The firm’s managing partner in Australia, Amber Matthews, said it is “an exciting period of growth and expansion for DLA Piper as we continue to step up in the Australian market”.
“We’ve been strengthening our presence in the market over the past few years, and these lateral hires form part of the ongoing expansion of our corporate practice in Australia,” she continued.
Grant Koch, the firm’s head of corporate in Australia, commented that the firm has “been steadily building our corporate and transactional capability, and deepening the bench strength of our Australian corporate practice”.
“In this team, we are gaining market leading M&A partners, assisting us to build on that success and further enhance our capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region,” he said.
NRF responds
In response to the DLA announcement, a Norton Rose Fulbright spokesperson said the firm “has benefitted from attracting a large number of talented partners in recent times as we continue to transform our business since our combination with HDY 18 months ago”.
“Over the last year, our partnership size has remained consistent. We’ve attracted a number of high-quality partners and senior non-legal risk advisers from international and domestic law firms and other businesses, while building our key service areas. Those who have joined us have been attracted by our track record of delivering year-on-year growth in a volatile market where partner movement is a reality,” the spokesperson continued.
“We are an agile business, focused on change, and we constantly flex our shape to satisfy client needs and capture emerging market opportunities.
“In that spirit, we look forward to announcing our new partner promotions and further additions to the partnership soon.”