Prior to joining Sparkes, Mr Bartlett had been a partner at CGW for almost 21 years and, prior to that, he was a lawyer at Clayton Utz in Brisbane.

Mr Bartlett specialises in aviation law, advising leading domestic and international aviation insurers on policy construction and coverage issues.

Meanwhile, his professional indemnity practice includes acting for the Queensland Law Society captive insurer as both coverage counsel and claims counsel in relation to commercial, property and wills and estate claims against Queensland law firms. He also advises corporate clients in various sectors and industries on coverage issues under professional indemnity policies.

Mr Bartlett’s appointment follows the defection of former Sparkes special counsel Mark Winn, who joined the partnership of Brisbane firm Thynne + Macartney, and senior lawyer Liana Westcott, who now works at Russell Kennedy Lawyers.

Late last year, Sparkes sought to boost its insurance team with the hire of insurance specialist Helen Stavridis from DW Fox Tucker in Adelaide after global insurance firm Clyde & Co poached three Sparkes partners for its new Brisbane office.