Bright Sparke joins Squires
Squire Sanders has poached a corporate and financial services partner from Sparke Helmore.
Sydney-based Michelle Segaert (pictured) was a partner in Sparkes’ corporate group for less than two years. Prior to that she was special counsel at Johnson Winter & Slattery for less than a year, her first private practice gig after more than three years in-house at Allco Finance Group.
Shortly after Lennox joined Squires, the firm’s corporate team lost M&A partner Amber Stanton to US rival K&L Gates.
Segaert has more than 17 years experience in funds management, corporate transactional work and financial services regulation. She started her career at the Sydney office of King & Wood Mallesons and has worked at Linklaters in London.
Campbell Davidson, office managing partner of Squire Sanders in Sydney, commented: “Michelle’s appointment is an important strategic step in expanding our corporate practice in Australia, particularly from the perspective of financial services and fund management.”
Segaert’s appointment brings partner numbers across Squire Sanders’ Australian offices to 15.
Sparkes has made two partner promotions in the wake of Segaert’s departure. M&A lawyer Daniel Atkin and property lawyer Wayne Kaplan are now partners at the firm.