Bill Kritharas expands the Sparkes team to 33 lawyers including six partners, boosting the firm's capability to handle occupational health and safety (OHS) implications for Australian companies as OHS laws are harmonised nationally.

"It's a great time for Bill to be joining the firm ... just as clients come to grips with the implications of national harmonisation of workplace health and safety laws," said Matthew Smith, head of the firm's national workplace practice group.

Kritharas was one of 15 partner promotions made by Norton Rose globally in April of this year, however he soon left his position in the firm's OH&S group in Canberra.

Kritharas has experience advising on OHS issues in the construction, property and local government sectors and brings another dimension of insight through his position as a councillor at Canterbury City Council.