Mr Montag has come across from White & Case, where he was a partner for nearly five years. He has also worked at Herbert Smith Freehills and as the acting general counsel for Fotowatio Renewable Ventures.

Mr Whittaker has come over from Holding Redlich, where he was a partner for almost three years. Prior to this, he was a partner at Mills Oakley, a director at PwC, and a senior associate at HSF.

He has also, Hall & Wilcox added, brought his team – senior associate Lauri Reid and lawyer Kayla Howe – with him to the firm.

Both Mr Montag and Mr Whittaker and his team will be based in Hall & Wilcox’s Melbourne office but will work nationally.

The news follows the firm’s poaching of 30 from boutique firm McMahon Clarke in September, its promotion of 48 lawyers to more senior roles in June, its hiring of a partner from HWL Ebsworth in March, its addition of a team of five senior lawyers from Australian Business Lawyers and Advisors in the same month, its hiring of a partner from Baker McKenzie in February, its poaching of a team from Perth-based boutique Summers Legal in the same month, and its promotion of an insurance litigation lawyer to partner in January.

It also follows a conversation firm managing partner Tony Macvean had with Lawyers Weekly at the start of this year, discussing what is next for the BigLaw firm.

Speaking about the appointments, Mr Macvean said: “Over the past few years, we have invested significantly in building a strong, reputable projects and infrastructure practice.

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“There will be continued investment in energy transition and social infrastructure. We can play a significant role in important nation-building projects and in Australia’s energy transition.

“We are excited about the opportunities a thriving projects and infrastructure practice creates across the firm.”

Mr Montag added: “I am excited about joining a firm that values client service alongside its care for people and culture.

“Their collaborative approach attracted me to Hall & Wilcox, and I’m very much looking forward to joining the team and helping with the continued growth of the firm in the projects and energy transition space.”

And Mr Whittaker said: “Our team is excited to be joining the projects and infrastructure practice at Hall & Wilcox and, in particular, driving the firm’s core focus on ESG and social infrastructure.

“As the nation grapples with a housing and health services crisis, I look forward to utilising the truly national platform Hall & Wilcox provides to get on with the job of delivering impact projects around the country.”

Hall & Wilcox has over 1,000 staff, including nearly 140 partners, across its eight national offices.