In contrast to the majority of the top 25 of the Legal Business 100, DWF has been a latecomer to well-served international markets but it has nonetheless continued its rapid international push by securing an exclusive association with a six-partner outfit in another market long familiar with English arrivals – Australia. The deal, which the firm says ‘will shortly lead to merger’, follows its launch in Singapore in June.
As part of the deal, DWF will take on six partners and 20 associates based in Melbourne and Brisbane specialising in insurance, occupational health and safety and industrial relations as well as a commercial practice focused mainly on the construction, hospitality and real estate sectors. The practice, which was originally formed eight years ago as boutique insurance firm MVM Legal, is run by partners Jamie McPherson and Damien van Brunschot and prior to the deal traded as part of the international network of firms Kaden Boriss.
