In making the announcement CEO John Nerurker said in six weeks alone, Mills Oakley lured five partners from four competitors.

The latest hires have been listed as Graham Maher and Kathryn Edghill, previously of Bird & Bird; Juanita Rayson, previously of DibbsBarker; Matthew Kelly, previously of Corrs Chambers Westgarth; and Virginia Waterhouse, previously of Russells Lawyers.

Mr Maher specialises in competition and dispute resolution, Ms Edghill specialises in competition, Ms Rayson and Ms Waterhouse specialise in corporate advisory, and Mr Kelley specialises in restructuring and insolvency.

“This latest group of appointments takes the size of our partnership to 100 — a milestone number and indicative of the legal talent we’re able to attract,” Mr Nerurker said.

“The focus on corporate advisory and competition skills in the new recruits is reflective of an increase in the volume of complex legal work Mills Oakley is undertaking for key national clients.”

Mr Nerurker added that the partnership would grow larger again after the next round of internal promotions is announced in June.

“Our growth strategy is propelled by a mix of promotions and external appointments. We are equally committed to both mechanisms for achieving growth,” he said.

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“Nevertheless, Mills Oakley is not about growth for growth’s sake. We have a clear vision to become a top 5 Australian firm and to achieve that we know we must be responsive to client requirements for sufficient depth and breadth in our practice areas.”

Late last year Mills Oakley announced it had launched a new practice in Canberra, following the hire of a team from Russell Kennedy Lawyers.