Macdonald was previously a senior vice-president in the natural resources group at Deutsche Bank in Melbourne.

In this role he advised on a number of high-profile transactions, including advising Tata Steel on its response to Rio Tinto's $3.9 billion takeover offer for Riversdale Mining Limited and Xstrata plc on its successful $514 million takeover offer for Sphere Minerals Limited.

Before becoming an investment banker Macdonald was a senior corporate/M&A lawyer at Freehills in Melbourne and spent time working at Allen & Overy in London.

Gilbert and Tobin managing partner, Danny Gilbert, said Macdonald is an “exceptional M&A and corporate lawyer with excellent mining industry knowledge and commercial acumen that will give our clients a competitive edge”.

Macdonald joins the M&A/corporate advisory team headed by Neil Pathak.