The firm says the appointments reflect a sustained demand from clients despite the challenging market conditions. 

Freehills’ chief executive officer, Gavin Bell, said that the decision to appoint new partners despite economic uncertainty reflects the firm’s resilience.

“Including these new partners Freehills has appointed a total of 14 new partners since July last year and along with Australian first initiatives such as the introduction of executive counsel, this indicates a clear strategy to position the firm with the right legal talent to best service its clients," he said. 

The new partners come from commercial litigation, M&A and competition and market regulation.

The new partner appointments will become effective from 1 July 2009 and senior associate, senior counsel and executive counsel appointments will be made later this month.

Freehills joined many of its peers in March when it announced it would freeze salaries.