Norton Rose Hong Kong has expanded its corporate finance practice with two new partner-level joiners, one of which is a former partner in Deacon’s Perth office.

Shaun McRobert, previously a partner in the firm’s Perth office, has relocated to Hong Kong following strong demand from PRC clients, the firm said. He was one of the leading corporate and resources lawyers in Australia.

McRobert’s focus is cross-border mergers and acquisitions, resources and equity capital markets.

"Hong Kong is a logical extension for our resources business following our Norton Rose merger. We can do things that most other law firms just can't do and we do it very well."

Partner Andrew Abernethy has been moved from the firm’s Dubai office, where he was a mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and investment funds lawyer.

David Stannard, partner and head of Asia for Norton Rose Group based in Hong Kong, said of the new recruits: "We welcome [McRobert] and [Abernethy] to the Norton Rose Hong Kong practice. Hong Kong will play a critical role in the expansion of Norton Rose Group's operations in Asia.

There will now be 16 at partner level in the Norton Rose Hong Kong office and a total of 41 at partner level across the Norton Rose Group offices in Asia.

The firm has more than 700 lawyers in the Asia Pacific, operating from 13 offices, creating a major legal practice across the entire region.