The two partners have been confirmed as Mark Sant and Brendan Milne. At the time this article went live, the remaining team members were yet to be disclosed.

Mr Sant brings over 25 years’ experience to his new role at HFW, having advised clients on complex employment and industrial relations issues, including enterprise bargaining, workplace restructuring, workplace investigations and employment related litigation.

Meanwhile, Mr Milne has represented clients across numerous contentious and non-contentious employment and industrial relations matters. According to a statement from HFW, he has particular expertise in industrial disputes and enterprise bargaining, and has acted for clients in a number of significant matters including in the management of boycotts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark Sant, Brendan Milne and their team to HFW,” said Gavin Vallely, HFW Australia, managing partner.

“Mark and Brendan are very accomplished and highly regarded practitioners who will deliver a first class service in industrial relations and employment matters, which is a key requirement for our clients in all of the industry sectors in which HFW operates.”

HFW global senior partner Richard Crump said the appointments will enable the firm to provide all aspects of employment law from day-to-day HR inquiries, to strategy impacting on business objectives and reputation to its clients, including the management of enterprise agreement negotiations and workplace disputes.

“This is another important step in the continued development of our Australian business,” Mr Crump said.

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“We have been in Australia for more than a decade and our practice in the country has grown tenfold over that time.

“We have ambitious plans to continue our growth in Australia and aim to double the size of our business within the next four years.”

Commenting on his new role, new HFW partner Mark Sant said: “Australian industrial relations and employment law is becoming increasingly complex and with so many legislative changes, it can be hard for clients to keep up”.

“We are expecting a surge in demand for our industrial relations expertise in light of the union movements focus on addressing long-term wage stagnation and the prospects that the Australian Labor Party, if elected later this year, will make changes to industrial relations laws to give unions and employees more options to address this very significant issue,” he added.

“The team is really excited to be joining a dynamic and fast-growing firm that demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit in the way it delivers for its clients.

“HFW is a great fit for our team and our clients and has a very exciting strategy.”