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Gilbert + Tobin integrates boutique banking and finance firm into its Perth operations
National law firm Gilbert + Tobin has moved to bolster its banking and finance expertise in Western Australia, with boutique practice Wright Legal set to be integrated into the BigLaw player’s Perth practice.
Jerome Doraisamy
Wright Legal, a boutique banking and finance practice in Western Australia, is set to join BigLaw firm Gilbert + Tobin, with directors Trish Chapman and Dom McGreal (both pictured) joining G+T as partners.
The integration will take effect on 1 April.
Speaking about the national firm’s bolstered ranks in the west, G+T founder and chairman Danny Gilbert said: “We are delighted that Trish and Dom have joined forces with Gilbert + Tobin as partners of the firm in Perth.
“Through hard work, innovation, and an outright dedication to client service, Trish and Dom have built Wright Legal into the leading independent banking and finance practice in Western Australia. These are all characteristics we value highly at Gilbert + Tobin.
“Our partner numbers in Western Australia have increased by over 60 per cent in the last three years, a sign of our commitment to this important and rapidly growing market.”
Ms Chapman added: “Given the growth of the Wright Legal practice and the tremendous opportunities we believe lie ahead, combining with Gilbert + Tobin makes perfect sense.
“Most importantly, it provides Wright Legal’s clients with continuity of the same excellent service but adds access to a broader range of expertise to meet their legal and commercial needs.
“Having worked alongside Gilbert + Tobin on many deals in Western Australia, we found we share a similar approach to legal practice: we deliver innovative, solutions-focused and value for money advice and place our clients at the absolute centre of everything we do.”
When asked if the national firm is eyeing further acquisitions in Western Australia, a firm spokesperson said that G+T is seeing strong growth in the Perth market and nationally.
“We regularly assess opportunities for potential lateral hires and acquisitions to ensure we can continue to offer clients market-leading commercial advice where they need it,” the spokesperson said.
“We are particularly optimistic about the outlook for the energy and infrastructure and mining and metals sectors in Western Australia, which are poised to benefit from the global trend towards decarbonisation and the clean energy transition.”
The spokesperson further noted that in addition to Ms Chapman joining and Mr McGreal G+T as partners, offers have been extended to the entire team at Wright, “with Trish’s and Dom’s support”.
The news follows the return of two partners who had gone to White & Case in late January, G+T’s appointment of an energy and resources partner in Perth from Pinsent Masons in late December, the arrival of a Clayton Utz partner and her team earlier in December, the appointment of a counsel from Ashurst as a new energy and infrastructure partner in August, the naming of four new partners and seven new special counsel in June, and the appointment of a financial services partner from Ashurst back in April.
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.
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