Ms Coleclough, whom the firm described as an experienced commercial dispute resolution solicitor with a breadth of international experience across a range of commercial disputes in litigation, arbitration, and mediation, was most recently senior associate at UK Top 50 firm Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP. Prior to that, she was an associate solicitor at Dentons and at Rosling King LLP.

Her arrival at the firm, Ironbridge said in a statement, coincided with the firm seeing a significant uptick in fraud-related work, especially in relation to scams.

She is a “leading” practitioner, the firm said, in the field of authorised push payment frauds (APP fraud), having recently represented a consumer body in the landmark case of Philipp v Barclays Bank UK PLC, and she has also been “instrumental” in advising in a multibillion-dollar bankruptcy and its enforcement in Australia.

The appointment, the firm added, “bolsters the firm’s brain trust”.

The news follows the firm’s expansion into Melbourne and the launch of its Asia desk earlier this year.

Speaking about the appointment, Ironbridge founder and partner Trevor Withane said: “The fact that Ironbridge Legal was able to compete to attract Laura, who has leading global experience, is a moment of pride in our four-year history.”

“In the short time Laura has been with us, our clients have benefited from her experience of practising in England – bringing to the table novel, creative and outside-the-box strategies. I am also thrilled to have added another woman to our team, proving the point that women can have careers in private practice at the senior levels,” he outlined.

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“While Laura’s focus will be on building the firm’s Melbourne client base and working alongside me to demonstrate the firm’s top-tier quality in this important east coast market, she will work with our international and Sydney-based clients to ensure that they get the benefit of her exceptional experience.”

And Ms Coleclough added: “I am excited about joining the outstanding team at Ironbridge Legal and helping Trevor to grow the Melbourne office.”

“In light of the huge rise in APP fraud scams, not just in Australia but globally, I am keen to use my experience in this new developing area to provide guidance to victims, regulators and/or consumer bodies in order to fight fraudsters,” she noted.

“Unfortunately, fraudsters are becoming more and more sophisticated, and victims will want to draw on the expertise of a firm like Ironbridge Legal with its impressive technology, nimble lawyers and deep well of asset recovery expertise.”