As Australia's resource cool-down gathered pace, the surge in litigation across the mining hub of Western Australia prompted Jones Day to set up shop in Perth. Now, the firm is following a similar strategy to Australia's other resource heartland, Queensland, with a new office in Brisbane. 'A lot of global energy and commodity corporates are based in Brisbane that will be going through a period of restructuring and dispute over the next few years,' said Jones Day partner-in-charge of Australia and Japan Chris Ahern. Brisbane will be the firm's third opening in Australia, following Perth in 2014 and its flagship Sydney office in 1998.

Familiar challenges

While Jones Day's Brisbane team will also advise on project-related disputes in transport, construction and agriculture, its focus will be firmly on challenges arising from the region's softening commodities cycle. 'We see the same issues playing out in Queensland [as in Perth] in terms of major projects,' Mr Ahern commented. Jones Day partner John Cooper, who has headed up the Perth office since its inception, will be flown out east to lead the firm's new Brisbane team. Former McCullough Robertson chairman Brett Heading has also been brought on as a partner for the Brisbane office, bringing with him over 30 years' experience in M&A and capital raisings for energy, natural resources and agriculture clients. Sources: The Australian Financial Review; The Lawyer