Reporting last week on Coudert Brothers’ significant strengthening of its property practice in Sydney, which was attributed to “a stable property market”, Lawyers Weekly learned that although the property market in Sydney was “not currently booming”, many clients would regard a slow down as giving them the opportunity “to acquire more sites and do more transactions”.

The firm claims to have an aggressive strategy for growth in the property market, and in Melbourne it will be taking on a senior consultant and a senior associate.

“It is clearly our strategy to expand the firm’s skills base across the eastern seaboard to service clients in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane,” said lead partner for the property practice, Andrew Newbold.

“As there is significant investment available for growth in the property sector — for example the growth in funds and management and international investment, HGR will also be expanding the services provided to clients from front end development and construction work to back end litigation,” Newbold added.