Following more than a decade with Rio Tinto, Mr Edmands is joining Gilbert + Tobin’s Perth office in June. He is Rio Tinto’s former managing director, Australia and general counsel for iron ore. Previously, Mr Edmands practised in Blake Dawson Waldron’s (now Ashurst) energy and resources group as a managing partner.

Mr Costas leaves Minter Ellison, where he has overseen major M&A and ECM transactions as the firm’s deals chair. Described by Gilbert + Tobin as “one of Australia’s leading strategic M&A and corporate lawyers”, he is due to start with the Gilbert + Tobin's Sydney office in July.

Gilbert + Tobin managing partner Danny Gilbert said the new partners will bring valuable experience and expertise to the firm.

“They are unquestionably top legal practitioners and I am pleased Gilbert + Tobin continues to attract such outstanding leaders,” Mr Gilbert said.  

The two new Gilbert + Tobin partners follow the recruitment of Perth resources and native title litigator Marshall McKenna and property and construction partner Steven Mackay.

In March two Gilbert + Tobin lawyers, Andrew Crook and Ros O’Maly, were recruited by Hogan Lovells in its first round of partner hires. The firm also lost partner Diane Skapinker to a global firm late last year.