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Mills Oakley appoints partners from HWL Ebsworth, Finlaysons
National law firm Mills Oakley has continued to swell its partnership ranks, this time hiring a partner from fellow BigLaw HWL Ebsworth and another from Adelaide firm Finlaysons.
Jerome Doraisamy
Geoff Bloom joins Mills Oakley after 14 years at HWL Ebsworth and will be based in the firm’s Sydney office.
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He provides, the firm said, commercial and regulatory advice to the health, life sciences and aged-care industries, as well as privacy, and does work for peak health professional bodies and the medical research industry.
Annoushka Scharnberg joins the firm following 15 years at Adelaide firm Finlaysons and will be based in the firm’s South Australian arm.
She will provide, the firm said, a full range of services from the Adelaide office to her extensive networks and the increasing number of developers entering the South Australian market.
The appointment of the two partners means that the firm has added 21 professionals to its partnership ranks since January 2023.
The news follows the firm’s addition of four partners and the acquisition of a boutique practice earlier this month, the taking of five partners from BigLaw rivals in September, its addition of lawyers from MinterEllison in the same month, and its promotion of 55 lawyers to more senior roles in June, including three to the partnership.
Speaking about the hires, Mills Oakley chief executive John Nerurker said the lateral hires reinforce the firm’s emphasis on growth in strategic practice areas.
“We are delighted to welcome Annoushka and Geoff to the partnership,” he said.
“Annoushka brings a strong track record of achievement and understanding of development law in both South Australia and across the country. Geoff has a niche practice, and clients will benefit enormously from his wide-ranging experience in the health and life sciences industries.
“We continue to identify emerging opportunities for Mills Oakley and recruit the right people to best serve our clients’ needs.”
Mr Bloom added: “I chose Mills Oakley because it’s the kind of firm where I can improve my offering to the market.”
And Ms Scharnberg noted: “The number of women in partnership was really important to see that clearly I had a voice.” She stressed that the flexibility and hybrid working conditions offered by the BigLaw firm were also “what a working mother looks for”.
