The new appointments have left the top-tier firms, Phillips Fox announced last week, because they were attracted by the opportunities their new placement could offer.

Former Mallesons Stephen Jaques equity tax partner Richard Pentony has acted as a key adviser to some of Australia’s largest corporations. He has experience structuring and advising on takeovers, schemes of arrangement, corporate restructures, capital management initiatives and demergers.

Katherine Sainty was a partner at Allens Arthur Robinson for ten years. She is a corporate and commercial lawyer, with experience including advising major technology and telecommunications, media and entertainment companies.

Elizabeth Wild, previously at Pricewaterhouse Coopers Legal, is an environment lawyer. She specialises in due diligence for financiers, purchasers and vendors. She has worked on projects for large corporations in the transport, mining and utilities sectors.