Ms Nickels specialises in advising companies on employment law aspects of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, and restructuring, rationalisations and outsourcing projects.

Ms Nickels said: “I am excited to be joining the growing DLA Piper team in Perth, and look forward to working with clients and colleagues across the firm’s global offices and its local practice.

“DLA Piper’s strong corporate capability provides a natural synergy with my focus on the employment aspects of corporate activity.”

DLA Piper managing partner in Australia John Weber said: “Over the past 12 months we have considerably expanded via strategic lateral hires in the Australian market, and we are gaining a highly experienced lawyer in Leanne.”

The firm’s strategic expansion has been evident with James Philips, Grant Koch, Michael Bowen, Scott Gibson, Marc Wilshaw and David Hallam all recently appointed as partners of the firm.

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