Michelle Segaert joins the firm’s new corporate practice, which was established two months ago. The practice specialises in regulated and unregulated corporate transactions, funds management and financial services regulation.

Segaert started her career at King & Wood Mallesons, then Mallesons Stephen Jaques, as a senior associate in the corporate and funds group. She has also worked at Linklaters in London.

Nick Humphrey, who leads Sparke Helmore’s national corporate practice group, said: “In just two months, we’ve assembled a fantastic corporate team whose skills complement those of the corporate lawyers who were already at Sparke Helmore.

“Most of our team has worked overseas for top-tier firms, which means we bring international experience to mid-market M&A, ECM and private equity transactions in Australia,” he said.

National managing partner, Jesse Webb, said the firm has created a national corporate practice with strengths in the finance, mining, manufacturing, retail, property and construction industry sectors.