With more than a decade spent working in the legal and banking sectors, the former investment banker has experience in M&A and equity capital markets transactions.

Mr Mannolini was previously a partner at Freehills (today known as Herbert Smith Freehills), working in Sydney and Perth. He was Macquarie Capital’s executive director from 2013 to 2016, and earlier this year served as director of Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility in Cairns.

Speaking of his new appointment, Mr Mannolini described Gilbert + Tobin as being “at the vanguard of innovation in law”.

“The firm already has a well-deserved reputation for leadership in the energy and resources sector in Western Australia, and I look forward to working with the Perth partnership to further broaden its service offering,” Mr Mannolini said.

According to Gilbert + Tobin managing partner Danny Gilbert, the new partner appointment reflects an ongoing development of the firm’s Western Australian practice.

“Justin has an exceptional reputation and brings a wealth of experience in corporate, private and government sector,” Mr Gilbert said.

“Justin will strengthen our presence in Perth and make an important contribution to our firm.”

Meanwhile, the Gilbert +Tobin Sydney office has recently lost leading tax partner Peter Feros to national rival Clayton Utz.

In April, the firm announced two major coups with the appointment of Rio Tinto’s former managing director Philip Edmands and new M&A partner Costas Condoleon poached from MinterEllison.