In the firm’s Melbourne office, partner Mark Branagan contributes his employment law litigation expertise to the workplace relations group, while fellow partner Adam Lindell will boost the firm’s commercial team with his experience in mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructuring and private equity. Julie Callea-Smyth and Andrew Fox join as partners in the dispute resolution and litigation team, with a particular focus on alternative dispute resolution strategies.

Long-term legal adviser to the building industry, Michael Ryan, has been appointed as a consultant, bringing his specialist experience in the construction law sector to the Melbourne office’s dispute resolution and litigation group.

Lex Orange, a construction law practitioner specialising in government and private projects, has joined the Brisbane office. While in Sydney, Michael Hodgson has joined as partner, with experience in corporate advisory work, initial public offerings, structuring managed investment schemes, business acquisitions, takeovers and share, option and debenture issues across a range of industries.

“These new partners represent continued growth in key areas for the firm on a national basis,” national chairman of Dibbs Abbott Stillman, Scott Sloan, said.