Clutz financial services group head and investment funds group co-head John Moutsopoulos is the most high profile of the departing trio, with senior tax and restructuring partner Paul Humphreys and financial services partner Zein El Hassan following him to Norton Rose.

Norton Rose also announced that Tessa Hoser, the general counsel at Export Finance and Insurance Corporation and a former partner with Freehills, will join the banking and finance practice of the firm in Sydney.

"The appointments are an important strategic fit for us as we focus on accelerating the development of our key financial institutions business in Asia Pacific growth markets and across the globe," said Managing partner and group deputy chief executive, Don Boyd

Norton Rose Australia has made 16 lateral partnership appointments since it integrated with the Norton Rose Group in January 2010.