Global law firm Ashurst has strengthened its taxation practice with the addition of a partner from national rival MinterEllison, following a recent leadership reshuffle within the group.
After spending over two decades at MinterEllison, Nathan Deveson has joined Ashurst as a senior partner in its Sydney-based tax practice, with plans to officially become a member of the partnership in 2026.
In a statement, the global law firm shared how Deveson’s appointment reinforces the strength and depth of its tax practice, particularly across its “corporate transactions, projects and energy transition, and real estate practices.
Deveson’s appointment as a senior leader within Ashurst’s tax practice follows news earlier this week that the firm’s global co-head of tax, Costa Koutsis, departed to join Corrs Chambers Westgarth as a partner.
With over 23 years of experience as a tax partner, the global law firm noted that Deveson is widely recognised as “one of Australia’s foremost experts in state taxes, with expertise in stamp duty, land tax, surcharge stamp duty and land tax and other state-based taxes”.
Lea Constantine, partner and head of region, Australia, emphasised the significance of Deveson joining Ashurst’s tax practice, noting the depth of experience and expertise he brings to the team.
“Nathan’s appointment marks a significant milestone for our global tax practice. He is recognised for his extensive experience advising on complex, high-value transactions for many of Australia’s prominent real estate and corporate clients,” Constantine said.
“His expertise will further strengthen our tax offering and create new opportunities for our clients, particularly in the real estate and infrastructure sectors. We are delighted to welcome Nathan to Ashurst and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our clients and our team.”
Speaking on his move, Deveson expressed enthusiasm about joining Ashurst at a pivotal time for its tax practice, highlighting the firm’s collaborative culture and global reach as key factors in his decision.
“I am delighted to be joining Ashurst at such a pivotal moment for both the firm and its tax practice. Having long admired the strength and depth of the Ashurst team, I have consistently been impressed by the firm’s reputation for excellence, its collaborative culture, and its truly global platform,” Deveson said.
“The prospect of working alongside talented colleagues around the world is genuinely energising, and I am confident that we can deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients and further develop a practice renowned for its technical expertise, commercial acumen, and client focus.”
This news follows the firm’s appointment of 20 new partners globally – three from its Australian offices – at the end of April and nabbing a new chief information officer for its London office at the end of 2024.
