DLA Phillips Fox said the cessation of the affiliate arrangement with the Adelaide office was "very amicable" and that the firm will continue to work with Fox Tucker and maintain a strong relationship.

Chief executive of DLA Phillips Fox Tony Holland stated that the separation will allow both firms to pursue their own strategic business agendas in a way that benefits both firms and their clients.

"Both firms agree that this new arrangement will be mutually beneficial," Holland said. "DLA Phillip's Fox's business strategy is very much focused on serving our clients in the Asia Pac region through our alliance with DLA Piper. We will continue to work closely with DLA Piper to provide opportunities and value to our clients in Australia, the Asia Pac region and globally."

Director and head of DLA Phillips Fox's Adelaide office, Joseph DeRuvo, will lead Fox Tucker as managing partner and said the decision to separate was a "no brainer" as a result of a strategic review by both the Adelaide office and the national firm.

"We [the Adelaide office] wanted to look at opportunities that were not along the same lines as the national firm," DeRuvo explained. "We were looking at expanding our corporate and commercial base here in Adelaide..."

DeRuvo said after separating financially from DLA Phillips Fox 12 months ago, the Adelaide office looked at where they wanted to be and came up with a business plan and growth strategy within a "very busy and exciting" eight months.

"We still have an excellent relationship with DLA Phillips Fox," DeRuvo said. "I've been in constant contact with Tony Holland during this entire process so we're still going to have a very strong relationship between the two firms...from our point of view we got the best of both worlds."

- Briana Everett