O’Callaghan (pictured) has been with Pipers for 29 years, and a partner since 1994.

He specialises in intellectual property strategy and management, and helps in creating and implementing IP protection strategies.

He is also the deputy chair of the Defence Teaming Centre.

“I love this firm and have enjoyed playing a part in its growth and expansion over the years. My focus will be to ensure that Piper Alderman provides the best experience of a professional services firm in South Australia, to our clients, to those who work here, and to the local community,” he said.

Piper Alderman has suffered in what has been a depressed Adelaide legal market, with three senior associates among seven staff made redundant earlier this year.

The three senior associates were all part of the firm’s dispute resolution and litigation group.

Speaking to Lawyers Weekly at the time, Britten-Jones said it “reflects a downturn in dispute resolution work in Adelaide” over the last few months.

He added the dispute resolution group was looking to roll-out alternate fee arrangements in order to survive in a contracting market.

Last week Lawyers Weekly exclusively revealed that one of Pipers most serious rivals in Adelaide, Fox Tucker, was merging with Donaldson Walsh Lawyers.

The leading Adelaide recruiter Paul Burgess said the Adelaide market was “still somewhat pessimistic and tricky”.