In Melbourne, the firm added three new partners: Steve Bell in the employment practice, and Patrick Sands and Ruth Overington in the disputes practice.

Elsewhere, Brisbane-based corporate lawyer Natalie Bryce and Perth-based disputes lawyer Ante Golem have also joined the partnership.

Two more Australians made partner in HSF offices overseas. They are: Melbourne projects lawyer Matthew Osborne who will join the partnership in Singapore, and finance lawyer Fergus Smith who will leave the Brisbane office to become a partner in Hong Kong.

HSF deputy senior partner Mark Crean said it was particularly pleasing to see Australian lawyers being promoted to partnership in the firm’s Asia offices.

Last month (16 April) HSF also appointed an Australian senior partner, Mike Ferraro, to head up the firm’s corporate practice globally.