Smith's promotion comes as he returns from a six-month secondment as head of legal, projects, with the firm's client Qantas Airways.

Minter Ellison's chief executive partner, John Weber, said Smith has worked on "some of the largest and most significant transactions in this part of the world".

Smith specialises in mergers and acquisitions and has experience in public and private M&A transactions across aviation, energy and resources, food and beverages and travel.

His public M&A expertise includes advising on listed company takeovers (friendly and hostile) and schemes of arrangement. His practice also includes private treaty acquisitions and disposals, auction sales and joint venture arrangements.

Minter Ellison's corporate team is led by partner John Steven. The team has held key advisory roles in Gloucester Coal / Yancoal, CGNPC Uranium Resources Company / Kalahari Minerals, GVK Group / Hancock Coal, Rio Tinto / Riversdale Mining, Jetset Travelworld / Stella Travel and the recent approach by US private equity giant KKR to Pacific Brands.