The new practice will be headed up by former Allion Legal principals, Craig Boyle and Kathy Reid.

They will be joined by their former team from Allion, including two senior associates, one associate and three lawyers.

In a statement, Ms Reid said the move to Minter Ellison would provide her clients access to a national network and depth of market knowledge.

“Our clients increasingly have complex work they need done, often quite urgently and involving other locations in Australia and Asia, not just Western Australia," Ms Reid said.

"By the same token, we have a number of significant WA-based clients who want genuine depth of knowledge of the local market and the resources to deal with their employment and safety challenges here.”

The firm’s Western Australia managing partner Adam Handley believes the new practice will complement the firm’s existing government and corporate practices in the state.

“Their appointment continues our already strong growth in Western Australia, where we are seeing double-digit year-on-year growth across our Perth practice,” he said.

Ms Reid has previously advised on a range of employment law issues and industry sectors, including energy and resources, infrastructure and construction, media, government authorities and health care.

The move to Minter Ellison marks a return for Ms Reid – she left the firm in 2006 as a senior associate.

Most recently, she has been with Allion for five and a half years, and Freehills prior to that.

Mr Boyle specialises in workplace relations and safety, including in the construction, engineering, agriculture, transport and logistics, mining and mining services sectors.

He also has significant experience with industrial relations advice, dispute resolution and enterprise bargaining.

His tenure at Allion was over four and a half years, while his previous firms include DLA Piper and Gadens.

Mr Boyle is due to start at Minter Ellison next week, while Ms Reid will move over before the end of the financial year.