Leading Australian firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth has added six corporate and banking partners from local rival MinterEllison.

The lawyers, whose collective experience at their former firm amounts to more than seven decades, will be based in Corrs’ Sydney office. Five were partners at their previous firm and one was a senior associate who has been made up with the move.

Private equity specialists Ricky Casali, Glen Sauer, Chris Allen and newly-made partner Andrew Hewson have joined Corrs’ corporate group, while financing partners Stewart Robertson and John Mosley have joined the firm’s banking and finance practice.

Corrs chief executive Gavin MacLaren said of the appointments: “Ricky, Glen, Chris and Andrew are well known in the private equity market for their strategic thinking, ability to close deals and generate investment opportunities in conjunction with their clients. They work with many of Australia’s leading private equity firms and will be a great addition to our corporate team.”

Casali’s clients at Minter included Adamantem Capital and Affinity Equity Partners, while Sauer advised on deals such as Next Capital’s sale of Funlab to TPG and Allen advised on a number of buyouts including KKR’s acquisition of Laser Clinics Australia, as reported by Financial Review.  

MacLaren added: “Stewart and John have more than two decades of experience advising private equity clients and large financial institutions on complex financings. They are well regarded for their insights and experience across the full spectrum of financing. This team will make a great contribution to the further growth of our private equity and finance practices.”

Corrs head of corporate Sandy Mak said the hires “add further strength to our market leading corporate team. With such strong experience in the private equity sector, we are excited about the considerable value they will bring to our clients in this space.”

Corrs was ranked third in Mergermarket’s 2020 full year Australasia M&A league table, advising on 26 deals valued at a total of $11.2bn – that put it seven places above MinterEllison. However, when it came to deal volume, MinterEllison was ahead. Its 54 deals valued at $6.2bn put it in second place, behind Herbert Smith Freehills. Corrs was seventh.

The hires follow shortly after Corrs announced it had added Charles Scerri QC as a partner based in Melbourne. Scerri has been a leading commercial silk since 1997 and is retiring from the bar to join Corrs’ dispute resolution practice; his expertise includes regulatory investigations and disputes, competition, class actions with a focus on the energy and natural resources sector.

And in other Australian legal news, corporate, commercial and workplace law-focused Melbourne boutique FCW Lawyers is set to join forces with Aperion Law, which advises startups, entrepreneurs and investors from its Sydney base. The merger, effective 5 July, will see the new firm maintain the FCW Lawyers handle and boast a roster of 25 professionals across both cities.