Payne joins HWL from Hall & Willcox, where he was a partner. He has also worked for the private wealth group of Goldman Sachs, JBWere, Greenwood & Freehills, KPMG and London-based law firm SJ Berwin.

"Mark is a highly-skilled and well-regarded taxation partner" said Juan Martinez, managing partner of HWL. "He combines the right blend of technical ability with business focus to help clients navigate the current challenging market conditions and capitalise on the opportunities they offer".

Payne provides advice to Australian and international corporations in a broad range of taxation, superannuation and financial services related areas, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate reconstructions and reorganisations, taxation disputes and private wealth management.

His experience includes advising on the structuring of managed funds and related transactions, outbound and inbound international investments, the structuring of debt capital raisings and private equity related acquisitions and disposals.

Payne joined HWL on 22 October.