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Mills Oakley acquires boutique firm
National BigLaw firm Mills Oakley has acquired a Melbourne-based boutique, in a move the firm said will enhance its litigation capabilities.
Lauren Croft
The acquisition of Melbourne boutique Patrick & Associates will see principal Ben Patrick join Mills Oakley as a partner, bringing his team of six lawyers and support staff.
Mills Oakley chief executive John Nerurker welcomed the Patrick & Associates team to the firm.
“When we first commenced discussions with Ben, we were one of several firms seeking to secure his signature. This came as no surprise given the current war for talent and the outstanding calibre of the Patrick & Associates team,” he said.
“We are proud that Ben chose to join Mills Oakley, adding further credentials to our Melbourne commercial litigation practice.”
The Patrick & Associates team will officially join Mills Oakley on 1 October, with the move to benefit the boutique’s clients, according to Mr Patrick.
“Mills Oakley has the breadth and resourcing to help service the increasingly sophisticated needs of my clients. We share the same conviction that deep, sector-specific expertise is essential for quality dispute resolution advice,” he said.
“Mills Oakley’s expertise in insolvency, property, construction and insurance disputes represents a particularly powerful value proposition for my clients.”
Lauren Croft
Lauren is a journalist at Lawyers Weekly and graduated with a Bachelor of Journalism from Macleay College. Prior to joining Lawyers Weekly, she worked as a trade journalist for media and travel industry publications and Travel Weekly. Originally born in England, Lauren enjoys trying new bars and restaurants, attending music festivals and travelling. She is also a keen snowboarder and pre-pandemic, spent a season living in a French ski resort.
