Jonathan Li, who was also an associate at Ashurst and a solicitor at then Allens Arthur Robinson, is a boost to the firm’s energy and resources capabilities.

His new firm said Li has broad domestic and international energy and resources experience, with a particular focus on the mining industry.

He has provided commercial advice to a range of clients in the energy and resources sectors, including on M&A private treaty transactions, public takeovers and schemes of arrangement, FIRB approvals, joint ventures and shareholder agreements, as well as on equity capital markets transactions, restructures, international treaties and the application of foreign bribery legislation, Clayton Utz said in a statement.

Li’s appointment comes after some expansion of the Clayton Utz Melbourne office over the last 18 months, including the lateral recruitment of Stephen Moulton in corporate, Michael Linehan in corporate, Stuart Pill and Dan Trindade in workplace relations and safety as partners.