Mergers for Perth law firms

Two Perth law firms have completed mergers this month, with Nedlands-based Cullen Babington Macleod acquiring a specialist liquor-licensing practice and CBD-based Q Legal joining with a Queensland firm.

Q Legal has merged with the much larger HopgoodGanim , which acts for over a third of ASX-listed mining companies based in Brisbane.

HopgoodGanim managing partner Bruce Humphrys said he hoped the firm could target mining and resources companies in WA, and better service its existing Queensland clients.

“A lot of our clients are either based in Perth or have operations in Western Australia, and this merger means we’ll be able to better service our existing client base,” he said.

The combined firm will have 15 staff members in the Perth office. This includes former King & Wood Mallesons partner Bert Gianotti , who has just joined the Perth team, and a HopgoodGanim staffer on secondment to Perth.

HopgoodGanim has 222 staff in Brisbane, including 27 partners.

Cullen Babington Macleod has acquired GD Crocket & Co, lifting its staff numbers to a combined total of 30 people.

GD Crocket & Co was established in 2005 by former Corrs Chambers Westgarth partner Gavin Crocket, and specialises in liquor licensing law.

Cullen Babington Macleod director Catriona Macleod said the acquisition would complement the firm’s existing specialty areas of litigation, franchising, property and general commercial work.

“We’re targeting a very specialized and growing area of law which is liquor licencing and this growth is being driven by the changing nature of Perth including the growth of small boutique bars coupled with the consolidation of larger liquor outlets,” she said.