Butler led DLA’s Brisbane real estate practice for more than 10 years, focusing on asset management for institutional and large owners of freehold and leasehold assets. Butler’s clients include Sonic Healthcare, Valad Property Group and Alpha Flight Services.

Payne is the first appointment to Mills Oakley’s newly-established workplace relations, employment and safety team in Brisbane. He was a special counsel at Sparkes for over three years and specialised in advising on workplace disputes, anti-discrimination, agreements and policies, and workplace health and safety.

The firm now has a workplace team across its offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Mills Oakley appointed five partners and 30 staff from large and mid-tier firms to its Sydney office last month (13 March).