At HSF, McDonald advised clients across the energy, mining, industrial, retail and financial services sectors. He specialises in merger clearances, complex regulatory matters and defending clients in investigations and legal actions by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

McDonald also brings trade practices knowledge from his time as a senior officer at the ACCC and as a current member of the Competition and Consumer Committee of the Law Council of Australia.

Grant Fuzi, senior partner of Allen & Overy in Australia, commented: “Peter is without question one of the most highly-regarded competition and regulatory practitioners in Australia. We are delighted to appoint him as lead partner in the Australian jurisdiction.”

The move follows the release of A&O’s half-year financial results from May to October 2013. The figures revealed that the firm had increased global turnover by 7.5 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Fuzi told Lawyers Weekly at the time that by capping growth in Australia the firm had avoided problems that have beset global rivals.

It has been six months since A&O’s last high-profile partner appointment. In May, litigation partner Mark van Brakel joined the firm’s Perth office from Corrs Chambers Westgarth.