Hall & Wilcox adds 30 from boutique firm

A team of 30 – including seven partners – is joining national law firm Hall & Wilcox from boutique practice McMahon Clarke, all of whom are Brisbane-based.

user iconJerome Doraisamy 07 September 2023 Big Law
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Thirty professionals from boutique investment funds and real estate firm McMahon Clarke are set to join Hall & Wilcox, bolstering the latter’s investment funds practice, with the former acting primarily for clients in the investment funds and real estate industries, providing a broad range of financial services, property, commercial and litigation services.

Seven partners from McMahon Clarke are coming over: Langton Clarke, Emma Donaghue, Kristy Dorney, Mark Lyons, Sean McMahon, Selina Nutley, and Elliott Stumm.

Elsewhere, 23 lawyers and other professionals are also set to move across.

The McMahon Clarke team is expected to join the BigLaw firm from 1 November and is Brisbane-based.

A spokesperson for Hall & Wilcox confirmed that it is not acquiring McMahon Clarke.

Speaking about the incoming professionals, Hall & Wilcox managing partner Tony Macvean (pictured) said: “We have a great investment funds practice and a strategic focus to continue developing and expanding our investment funds offering. Combined with the McMahon Clarke team, we think that we can become the undisputed market leader in investment funds nationally.

“The team joining also allows us to expand our Brisbane commercial practice, and position ourselves as a leading firm in the Brisbane and Queensland market.”

The news follows Hall & Wilcox’s promotion of 48 lawyers to more senior roles in late June, as well as its poaching of a boutique team for its Perth office in mid-February and its addition of a team from Australian Business Lawyers and Advisors in Newcastle in early March.

Hall & Wilcox knows the McMahon Clarke team well, Mr Macvean continued, noting the firm has “come up against them many times over the years”.

“We think that the McMahon Clarke team has an aligned vision, values, commitment to excellence and progressive spirit,” he mused.

At the start of the year, Mr Macvean spoke with Lawyers Weekly about what’s next for the BigLaw firm.

McMahon Clarke managing partner Sean McMahon added that his team has joined forces with Hall & Wilcox as the latter practice offers “the best cultural fit and the best opportunities for our people and our clients”.

“We can now offer added depth and expertise, a broader service offering, plus an expanded geographical footprint which will benefit our clients,” he posited.

“And, with deeper strength across our funds management, real estate and litigation teams, our combined funds management team will offer some of the best talent in funds management, one of the largest teams in the country and a powerful national force.”

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy

Jerome Doraisamy is the editor of Lawyers Weekly. A former lawyer, he has worked at Momentum Media as a journalist on Lawyers Weekly since February 2018, and has served as editor since March 2022. He is also the host of all five shows under The Lawyers Weekly Podcast Network, and has overseen the brand's audio medium growth from 4,000 downloads per month to over 60,000 downloads per month, making The Lawyers Weekly Show the most popular industry-specific podcast in Australia. Jerome is also the author of The Wellness Doctrines book series, an admitted solicitor in NSW, and a board director of Minds Count.

You can email Jerome at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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