Minters poaches three partners from Jones Day
17 December 2010
While the battle for the Australian mainland heats up, Minter Ellison has been investing in its wider Asian power-base by raiding rival firm Jones Day for three partners to bolster its Hong Kong office.

From early next year the three partners - Anne Ko, Barbara Mok and Katherine U - will front up to 10 Harcourt Road, adding muscle to Minter’s capital markets and M&A practices. The firm's Hong Kong office seems to be on something of a recruitment drive at the moment - with the recent additions of two partners from Linklaters and Hogan Lovells, according to an ALB report.

Something else being poached yesterday

Minters International managing partner Mark Green is clearly is pleased about the new acquisitions boasting that "between them have nearly 70 years of exceptional experience and knowledge of working in this market" and that   "their arrival further strengthens our capability in this area as demand ...continues to grow in Greater China and we expand our core practice areas of M&A and capital markets."

Lateral hires seem to have been the order of the day for the majority of Aussie firms this year. A recent AFR report has revealed that partner poaching, rather than promoting internally, has been the preferred method of expansion. Less than great news for all those hard working senior associates holding out for partnership.