Sparks has been a partner at Freehills since 2006, prior to which he worked at Linklaters in London and Tokyo.

"It's the international aspect. Above all else really, we're seeing increasingly a globalisation of legal services. It's a global law firm with a top-tier reputation," Sparks told Lawyers Weekly, citing his reasons for making the move from Freehills.

"Increasingly, with the nature of the work that I do - which is equity capital markets and M&A - there are more large deals which have cross-border elements ... I also think the size, the scale and the focus of the Australian offices [of A&O] is critical for the sort of work that I do."

Sparks' practice involves high-profile corporate and commercial transactions, including IPS and secondary offerings, public and private M&A, hybrid and retail bond issuances, structured products and privatisations.

"Tony is recognised as a leader in his field, both by clients and his peers," said A&O Australia managing partner Grant Fuzi. "He will be a tremendous asset to our corporate practice ... His arrival increases the team's critical mass and rounds out our equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and private equity capabilities."