A small Slater & Gordon office in Hobart merged with a larger Hillard office, Janine Gregory, Slater & Gordon's general manager of personal injury South told The New Lawyer. She said Slater & Gordon was in a "transitional stage" in Hobart and "had a lawyer there while we looked to engage in a merger". 

Gregory said the merger did not involve any redundancies. 

Brian Hilliard, the man behind the Hilliard firm, will manage the merged office. The merger means the closing of Slater & Gordon’s office in Macquarie Street, and all staff have moved to Hilliard’s existing office in Murray Street.

The merged firm will operate under the name Slater & Gordon in Association with Hilliard & Associates.

“Slater & Gordon is a well-known Australian brand but we’ve always found that Tasmanians want to deal with local people with local expertise so that is certainly what Hilliards brings to the table,” Hilliard said.

Hilliard, who is the immediate past president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance, founded Hilliard & Associates after buying out Watling Roche Lawyers in 2002.

Since then the business has covered all areas of personal injury law, specialising in motor vehicle accidents, workers compensation, medical negligence and public liability on a No Win No Fee basis.

Slater & Gordon chief executive officer Andrew Grech said the merger of the two offices was a great opportunity to expand the firm’s footprint in Tasmania.

“Slater & Gordon is committed to increasing its presence in Tasmania and this arrangement is a logical step in that direction.”