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As a general rule companies tend to look to recruit lawyers with at least two years experience gained in private practice. Companies take the view that firms provide excellent training in the initial years that they cannot offer. Whilst it is not impossible to make the move in-house earlier it is recommended that you spend your first two years in a firm. Law firms have the resources and framework in place to provide the training and support you need during those initial years, while in-house teams being generally smaller will not often have a dedicated training program. Companies will also tend to look for lawyers from those practice groups most closely aligned with their particular industry, i.e. IT practice group/IT company.

It becomes increasingly more difficult to move in-house from approximately 9 years PAE onwards. If you are applying for an in-house role and you are over 9 years qualified you may find yourself competing against a candidate that has had 5 years in private practice and 4 years in-house experience. Everything else being equal, companies are more likely to favour the candidate with the in-house experience because they have already proven that they can make the transition to an in-house environment. Additionally, beyond the 9 years, companies also question the motives behind your desire to move in-house. They will question why you haven’t made the move in-house earlier, as they are concerned that you may have chosen this option only because your partnership prospects are not positive, rather than because you truly have a desire to move in-house.

The best time in your career to move in-house is generally between 2 and 6 years post admission. Making the move earlier or later is not impossible just potentially more problematic.

If you would like to know more about the in-house market, opportunities currently available and how best to manage your move, contact our In-House Senior Consultant, Andrew Murdoch on +61 2 9266 2909 or at andrew@ea-int.com.

In this edition we take a look at Dubai and compare it to other lucrative jurisdictions (See our previous New York and Cayman analysis).

Like the Cayman Islands, Dubai is a tax-free jurisdiction. However unlike the Caymans, salaries in Dubai tend to be more in line with leading UK firms rather than US firms, however with the addition of significant benefits. This slightly lower salary base combined with the weakness of the Sterling (relative to the Australian dollar) means that Dubai may lag behind places like Cayman and New York in terms of nominal remuneration, but very much with Cayman when you factor in added benefits and the cost of living. To give an illustration, a 3-year lawyer at a magic circle firm in Dubai will be on a salary of approximately £85,000-100,000 ($A130,000-150,000) and up to 5 years on closer to £110,000 (A$165,000).

Yet despite this slightly lower average salary base, firms in Dubai have discretionary bonus schemes in place and lawyers typically make somewhere between 15% and 20% in the way of bonuses. Add that often-overlooked fact to the very reasonable cost of living in Dubai (particularly when compared to Cayman, New York and Sydney) and the salary begins to look increasingly attractive. There is even scope for some firms to provide housing allowances and other similar benefits.

On the face of it, Dubai may seem to be slightly off the mark with base salaries – but when zero tax is added to the aforementioned factors, it is clear that this is an extremely lucrative jurisdiction where you can make the most of it financially.

If you are interested in working in a lucrative jurisdiction and would like to know how best to manage your relocation, contact one of our international consultants on +61 2 9266 2900 or email ea@ea-int.com.

With the expansion of international firms into the Australian legal market over the last few years, there has been a focus on opportunities for lawyers across the board throughout the top tier. However, for those lawyers working in complimentary or advisory practice groups, the future may not be so bright.

Mergers like King & Wood with Mallesons and Ashurst with Blakes appear to be setting the tone for the future of the top tier. Whispers of high-level discussions between Magic and Silver Circle firms and the top-tier have arisen, with Freehills and Herbert Smith recently confirming they are in discussions. Add to that the standalone entrance of major players like Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance and the face of the legal market appears very different to that which many are accustomed to.

It is seemingly inevitable that all of the major international law firms will eventually have offices in Sydney. This will signify an increasingly intense competitive market, with firms like A&O already showing they can compete on the M&A tables after barely two years of operation in the region. In such a market where global equity pools suddenly come into play, expect to see a narrowing of focus – practice groups that bill big (think corporate, banking, finance and litigation) will begin to take precedence over the smaller, complementary groups. This will be compounded further as issues relating to historically high exchange rates begin to kick in.

This means that for lawyers in groups like employment, IP, media, government and insurance, the changing face of the top tier may not provide the opportunity that it does for corporate lawyers and litigators. It stands to reason that groups where clients have great cost restrictions are going to continue to be put under pressure as streamlining occurs. It would seem that the future of these groups is in the mid-tier or boutique space in the medium term, with many of these practice groups already excelling in the area. For those lawyers in such a group, now may be the ideal time to begin to reconsider your position in the market in order to settle your career long term.

If you would like to know more about the Australian local market, current opportunities available and how best to manage your move, contact our local consultant, Shaaron Dalton on +61 2 9266 2906 or at shaaron@ea-int.com.

2011 saw a welcome improvement in activity in the in-house market compared to 2010. In-house teams that had postponed recruitment in 2010 pending some clarity in the wider market decided that they could no longer manage on a skeleton staff, that uncertainty was the new “certainty” and looked to recruit (although not at the same levels as the firms). Within Commerce & Industry it will come as no surprise that industry sectors associated with the resources boom had the most activity (mining, energy, construction infrastructure) and that demand for lawyers in these sectors in Perth and Brisbane remained strong. With NBN getting under way and continuing changes in technology, the IT and Telco sectors also saw demand,particularly in outsourcing. General commercial lawyers with the ability to draft good commercial agreements have also been in demand as many smaller businesses look to recruit their first lawyer to reduce their external legal costs. Within Banking & Finance the market was steady, particularly within funds, insurance and investment banks. However, towards the end of 2011 activity at the banks diminished as the Euro crisis continued and the big four made dramatic staff cuts.

2012 - Despite the gloomy media predictions, at EA International we expect the in-house market to remain steady in much the same way as the latter part of 2011. In Commerce & Industry the resources boom looks set to continue and accordingly demand for lawyers that support that sector – i.e. infrastructure, construction and energy – should remain strong. In NSW, there will be increased demand for project and infrastructure lawyers,as the state government is expected to announce infrastructure projects that will most likely take the form of PPPs. As more and more organisations seek to lower their labour costs by pushing work overseas (think Qantas), IT outsourcing will continue to grow. The trend of recruiting a sole legal counsel to reduce legal costs will continue in much the same way as 2011. The retail, media and FMCG sectors will remain sluggish as they come to grips with the digital age and cautious consumers. In Banking & Finance, recruitment at the big four banks will remain subdued for the foreseeable future as they once again chase record profits. Funds and insurance should remain steady as these sectors are well-insulated due to compulsory super and necessity of insurance.

Moving forward, the good news is that all the in-house teams are exceptionally busy and would like to add additional lawyers to their teams but are waiting on head office approval. Should “certainty” return to the market in the form of a resolution to the Euro crisis, we would expect in-house recruitment to surge as companies make up for lost time.

If you would like to know more about the in-house market and how best to manage your move, contact our In-House Senior Consultant, Andrew Murdoch on +61 2 9266 2909 or at andrew@ea-int.com.

The year is almost over and we wanted to give everyone a brief round-up of the legal market in 2011:

• Throughout 2011, we’ve helped clients hire the very best in Australian and New Zealand lawyers across more than thirty different jurisdictions. In March, we were fortunate enough to manage the global Linklaters campaign, the largest recruitment campaign of any Magic Circle firm in the Australia/New Zealand region since 2008.

• Indeed, international destinations remain resilient and continue to hire. EA has been the leader for 11 years in assisting Australian and New Zealand lawyers to take their careers overseas and this year has been no exception. We have placed lawyers in New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Milan, Moscow, Brussels, London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai. There remain opportunities across a range of practice areas but many are no longer advertised, making the market difficult to navigate. Speak with our international consultants for a full picture of which opportunities exist in various locations. Hiring remains strategic but the interest in Australian and New Zealand lawyers in particular is very strong and we envisage this to continue into 2012 as the European economic situation becomes more certain.

• 2011 has also seen the expansion of our local service. The addition of our new Senior Consultant Shaaron Dalton in July was welcomed in the face of strong demand in all of Australia’s capital cities, especially Perth, Brisbane and Sydney.

• Locally, the globalization of the legal market continues with Australia remaining a strategic target for international firms looking to set up offices in Sydney and Perth in particular. This year Clifford Chance, Ashurst and US firm Squire Sanders set up their operations through mergers and acquisitions of national and boutique firms in Australia. Next year we will likely see more new entrants and further market consolidation at the top end. These developments mean a range of new and interesting opportunities with global firms for Australian lawyers.

• Salaries in the Australian market have continued to grow with upward pressure coming from the influx of international firms that have opened their doors here. As competition for elite legal talent heats up, firms have had to make adjustments in reaction to the new levels offered by some of the international players. All of this is good news for lawyers throughout Australia’s major cities along with new bonus arrangements incrementally leading Australia closer to a US or UK model or bonus culture. Again, we see this developing further in 2012 and so get in touch with us for a complete and exact appraisal of your salary and market rates being paid by top tier, international and leading boutiques firms.

• Researchers to the team have been made throughout the year – we are proud to have the very best research in the Asian market, and will continue to lead the industry in 2012 with the introduction of a premiere In-House service.

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In this edition we examine the situation in the Cayman Islands (see our previous newsletter for a New York analysis).

Salaries also start at around US$150,000 for associates with a minimum of 3 years post qualification experience. One of the requirements for obtaining a work permit in Cayman as a lawyer is you must have gained a full three years post qualification experience in your home jurisdiction. Again salaries move up about 10K each year and Senior Associate salaries for lawyers with 5 or 6 years of experience start at US$200,000. From there salaries tend to plateau at around US$250K for lawyers with between 8 and 10 years of experience.

Firms also have generous bonus schemes in place typically paying between 15% and 30% depending on individual billings and firms wide performance. All of this is tax free mind you, so you keep every penny. The flip side of Cayman is the cost of living is significantly more expensive than New York or Sydney in almost every way, largely due to the remoteness of the Island. Assuming the cost of living is between 20% to 30% on top of Sydney or New York that takes some of the edge off the tax free nature of the place.

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The New Year is just around the corner and those who are thinking about a potential in-house move can start putting plans in place. EA International is pleased to announce our new in-house offering as of January 2012. We are looking forward to being able to provide Australia’s elite legal talent with an in-house service of the same level and quality as our local and international practice offerings. With the addition of one of Sydney’s top in-house recruiters, we will be well placed to assist you with your move across the full spectrum of in-house legal opportunities, across a diverse range of sectors. Register your interest now to get the pick of opportunities from early in the New Year. If your plans are more medium-term, we would also like to hear from you so we are fully appraised of your plans and preferences and able to get you information on new roles from month to month.

Stay in touch with us through our website or newsletter for exciting new content about transitioning your career from private practice to in-house, along with the latest salary and job information for lawyers looking to make such a career change. There is a lot to consider in making the move out of private practice and lawyers need to seek the advice of experienced consultants to ensure they are making the right choices and considering all the relevant factors. EA will be well placed to counsel you through the process and provide you with honest advice about your prospects and the best avenues to pursue.

For more information on the state of in-house opportunities throughout Australia give us a call or register your interest here. Alternatively, subscribe to our newsletter to get a fortnightly update on the best in-house roles in the market.

The next series of newsletters will analyze the financials, cost of living and tax arrangements that will hopefully point you to where you can make the most money. There is always a lot of debate about where an Australian lawyer can make the most money and with the Australian dollar moving up and down like a yo-yo in recent months, a brief analysis is certainly overdue. Most lawyers would say that New York or one of the off-shore jurisdictions like the Cayman Islands or Dubai appear to make the most sense given the very high salaries paid in New York and the tax free status of the latter locations. Given how much the Australia dollar has appreciated in the past 6 to 9 months, particularly against the US dollar and Pound Sterling, many lawyers (particularly mid to senior level associates with leading firms) are finding it difficult to justify their overseas moves financially – or so it seems.

In this edition we look at New York. Typically salaries in New York for a first year associate start at US$160,000 and go up by about 10K each year or class band so a 5 year associate is typically making about US$230,000. Bonuses amongst the elite US firms are also paid yearly on top of the base salaries and are usually about US$30,000. In comparison, a first year senior associate (5 years of experience) in Sydney usually starts off on a salary of about A$150,000 and as we know bonuses here in Australia are more discretionary and fall short of the 30K US firms pay in New York. So a 5 year lawyer in New York can make circ US$260,000 whereas in Australia (even with e.g. a 20K bonus) the same lawyer is on about $A170K as a first year SA after 5 years of experience. That is about a 90K difference when the Aussie dollar is at parity. No small change. So New York remains one of the most lucrative places for a lawyer to work on the back of very high base salaries and huge annual bonuses. The other thing to note is New York remains a relatively inexpensive place to live and even rent in Manhattan is no longer streets ahead of what you pay in undersupplied Sydney! Taxes are also high but not as high as the top marginal rates in Australia.

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Another day another rush of hysterical headlines predicting either the onset of GFC mark 2, the “inevitable” breakup of the EU, or the “hard landing” for Chinese growth! If it’s not banks being depicted as ruthlessly protecting their margins in talking down the economy so they have an excuse not to lower rates when the RBA does, it is self interested pollies looking to score cheap points. To say the media are exaggerating the highs and lows is an understatement – they want to portray the economy as rocks or diamonds, but the reality is somewhere in the middle. Although we at EA are not economists, we are experts in legal recruitment. While there are clearly issues to deal with, our clients are telling us that the reality on the ground is far different from what you might perceive in the MSM. So what is actually happening right now?

• Every major international firm has seen an increase in turnover for the first 6 months of the financial year (for example A & O up 11%, Norton Rose up 7%). While many predict the second half to be flat, they are universally busy in Asset and Structured Finance, Restructuring, Litigation, Financial Services and Projects, just to name a few groups. In Asia, most of the growth is in Corporate, and in the Middle East, firms have slowly been recovering and have actively been hiring in Projects, Energy, Finance and Litigation. Couple that with significant increases in firms partner profits (for example £2.2m at Linklaters up from £1.56m at the top of equity) and it is not exactly an ugly picture!

• The general sense of conservatism about hiring, which has been particularly evident in the last two years, has limited growth for some time. The flip side to this is that most firms are very lean and have maintained high levels of utilisation, and are therefore much better placed to focus on groups which may become more active again, like Insolvency. Those who have hired for the last two years have done so for a reason – they are hiring to replace. As attrition rates remain at around 15-20%, this will continue.

• UK and US funds are driving acquisition and funding growth in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. As the US slowly strengthens, more funds will flow into the EU. There is significant money parked on the sidelines with US funds that will inevitably flow into discounted assets, so even a recession in Europe won’t lead to the same credit crunch that we saw in 2008. Most firms are of the view that the ECB will either significantly drop rates, or undertake some form of QE. Either way, international lawyers tend to work for inbound clients and the flow of money into economies in Europe will actually lead to more work for international firms (but less for the local firms).

• Outside of Australia we have placed people and worked with firms hiring Australian and New Zealand lawyers in Amsterdam, Milan, Frankfurt, Paris, Brussels, Jersey, Moscow, London, New York, Cayman, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo and Singapore in 2011 alone.

Not exactly the picture the press are painting, is it?

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Offshore financial centres are shifting to the mainstream, which has led to significant growth for off-shore law firms outside of their historic centres. The offshore financial industry is in transition from institutions purely serving wealthy individuals and large international businesses, towards a wider clientele of middle market corporate consumers and private customers who are drawn to the expansive trust, brokerage, fiduciary and other services. The formation of offshore trusts and companies is booming.

The massive growth in offshore investment funds is indicative of this shift. Offshore investment funds already represent assets of more than $1 trillion and in an increasingly global economy, investors are looking for increased gains, inbuilt tax benefits and fewer border regulations. The urge to invest directly in emerging markets is driving the growth of offshore funds still further.

The Channel Islands, made up of the bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey, are renowned as one of the leading offshore destinations in the world. With a combined population of about 160, 000 people and lying about 15 miles off the coast of France, the location is the perfect launch pad for the UK and continental Europe.  Lawyer salaries are comparable with London rates. A 5 year PQE corporate lawyer might expect to receive a starting salary between GBP£75-85K. With Guernsey at the forefront of offshore investment funds, this is the perfect jurisdiction for lawyers to specialise their skills and practice.

Moreover, the new changes to the Cayman Islands Immigration Laws are making life a lot easier for expat lawyers to manage work permits. Effectively suspending the unpopular ‘roll-over policy’ and creating long term work permits, these amendments passed earlier this year are well-timed to facilitate lawyers jumping in and benefiting from the growth in global offshore funds and work created from the new clientele.

Asia, too, is experiencing a revival of offshore firms from the Channel and Cayman islands. China, Singapore and Hong Kong host offshore firms offering a global practice while maintaining the ‘Cayman’ attitude, rendering them great places to work. If you are interested in working in an offshore firm in Asia, get in touch with one of our international consultants on +61 2 9266 2900 or ea@ea-int.com for a confidential discussion.

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Lawyers who think strategically about their career path have been shown to achieve a better career trajectory than those taking a laissez-faire approach. In making a well-planned career move, much can be achieved in terms of higher quality work, higher remuneration and a clearer pathway to partnership.

Executives in large organizations are often trained and coached about career management skills from an early stage and taught about the business they work for.  In law firms, it is not until a couple of years from partnership (if you are on the right track) that such management training begins.  As consultants, we see the difference taking a strategic approach to your career can make to the quality of your work, interest in your work and of course remuneration and partnership prospects.  Too often we deal with senior lawyers who have sat and waited for opportunities to arise and found that they never actually did.

The key triggers we see for a strategic move are as follows:

1. Change at supervising partner level: The partner may have left, may be planning to leave or may be relocating to another office.

2. Financial: Why work for less money in one firm when another pays 20% more for the same work?

3. Work levels: Too much work may create excessive hours; too little work may cause boredom and fear of financial/job instability.

4. Quality of work: Where the kind of work is no longer sufficiently stimulating or there is a movement towards doing less enjoyable work.

5. Difficult Partner/Colleague: It is not necessary to work in a negative environment while there are many positive ones to choose from.

6. Promotional Prospects: In top heavy practice groups we routinely speak with lawyers who are keen to know of opportunities offering a clearer path.  They do exist, but don’t leave your run too late.  We advise lawyers concerned about their group’s gearing to speak with us early – especially in the first two years of senior associateship because it is easier to establish yourself in a new firm at that level and to achieve the career impetus you are seeking.

If you see your own situation above and wish to speak with a consultant for advice on how to handle your career strategically please call us on (02) 9266 2900 or email ea@ea-int.com

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Structured finance is once again vogue du jour with firms in Sydney, Amsterdam, Milan, Singapore, London, Hong Kong, and Cayman conservatively growing their teams. Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, the post-GFC structured finance market has seen a considerable resurgence in the last twelve months, including structured products like Derivatives and Debt Capital Markets. As general lending and equity markets have continued to challenge businesses (and governments) looking to raise capital, the Debt markets, and more specifically the Bond and Derivatives markets, have taken up much of the funding slack.

The Bond market, for example, as a proportion of Global GDP has increased to 130% last year, from 119% in 2008, with this market now significantly larger in capitalization than global equity markets (at $55 trillion). Increases in Derivatives markets are evident as well, with 2010 witnessing a 25% increase in total trading with some 22.4 billion derivatives contracts traded worldwide, the highest level seen since 2004. This has certainly off-set the still-difficult Securitization markets which, while showing signs of improvement, are still largely inflated by government issuance and restructure rather than private company activity (with “placed” issuance still nowhere near levels seen prior to the GFC). What this has entailed for most structured finance lawyers (and those wanting to be one) is a diet of Debt Capital Market and Derivatives work, and far less Securitization than they might have consumed in the past.

Currently, demand for structured finance lawyers is high in Sydney, with many firms looking to expand their practices in these areas. Notably, newly opened international firms, both in Sydney and other Australian jurisdictions, are looking to build their practices as well. For those looking abroad, structured lawyers are in demand right across Asia, particularly in Singapore and China. Finally, beyond the Asia-Pacific region, further opportunities can be found with our clients in London and Amsterdam.

If you are a structured finance lawyer looking to make a move, get in touch with one of our consultants on +61 2 9266 2900 or ea@ea-int.com for a confidential discussion.

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Australia’s well-regulated banking environment and booming resources and infrastructure sectors provide strong offerings for NZ lawyers close to home.  The addition to the Sydney and Perth markets of Allen & Overy in 2010 and Clifford Chance in 2011 added Magic Circle options for talented practitioners.  The trend towards international powerhouse firms has continued with top tier Australian firms cementing international ties very recently. Blake Dawson has merged with Ashurst LLP and is set to rename as Ashurst in March 2012, while Mallesons’ joint venture with China’s leading firm, King & Wood, was also recently confirmed.  Credible international opportunities offering high level, cross-border transactional exposure are now available by just “crossing the ditch”.

What are we seeing?

M&A MINI BOOM

Fuelled by venture capital entering the market in the tech and energy sectors, M&A, private equity and ECM transactions are on the increase.  Activity abounds from local and international private equity houses and venture capitalists.  Senior Associate and mid-level roles predominate as quality transactional experience is sought. Remuneration prospects are strong with M&A roles carrying AUD$120 - AUD$150K packages for mid-level lawyers and AUD$170 to AUD$200K plus at 2-4 year Senior Associate level in Sydney.

FINANCE & PROJECTS STRONG

Finance roles also abound in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.  Project finance is prominent with roles for experienced lawyers at all levels.  Resources and infrastructure related PPP’s create opportunities in transport, energy, telecommunications, waste management, health, retirement and renewable energy sectors.  Strong offerings also exist in securitisation, DCM and derivatives for creative, product-oriented finance lawyers.  Leveraged, asset and property financing roles show boutique and mid-market options running head-to-head for quality with the tier one international offerings.

ENERGY & RESOURCES ACTIVE

Exciting project opportunities are available in Brisbane with coal, LNG and water featuring highly over the past year.  Mining is again booming in Perth, and Chinese and US investment is creating new mines, ports and infrastructure projects to facilitate increasing production and demand.  Lawyers with finance, corporate transactional experience or infrastructure project skills are highly sought after and rewarded with above market salaries.

If you are considering an overseas move and would like more information about Australian options, please contact one of our experienced consultants on +61 2 9266 2906 for confidential inquiries.

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While transactional lawyers fear further global instability, there is no doubt that Litigators have been the great benefactors of increased disputes all around the world. Whether the disputes are between the world’s largest financial services providers and regulators, brought on by shareholders against the likes of Bernie Maddoff, or in projects and construction litigation inspired by failed mega developments, the GFC has seen a dramatic increase in large scale litigation and a subsequent growth in the size of litigation practices. Given the lengthy timescales many of these matters need to reach their resolutions, there will be work in Litigation for many years to come.

Indications of this demand can be seen across the globe. In the U.K., JSC BTA Bank v Ablyazov is a GBP1.5 billion dispute involving 50 associates, 22 partners and 32 barristers. Across the pond, the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency has claims against 17 banks to recoup $196 billion for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac initially spent on mortgage-backed securities. Changes to financial regulatory rules motivated by the GFC have also resulted in significant increases in advisory work for financial services litigators (specifically, the Dodd-Frank reforms in the U.S. as well as the tightening of the regulatory framework in Hong Kong and Singapore).

In the Middle East, the brunt of GFC-related disputes has occurred in the real estate, projects and construction spaces. As disputes become more accepted in the region, there is certainly a positive future for litigators there. In the last three years, the global ADR market has continued to develop with a new center opening in Dubai and the continuation of rapid growth in hearings throughout all leading global International Arbitration courts.

Consequently, our clients in the UK, the Middle East and Asia are actively hiring mid-level Australian and New Zealand lawyers with experience in banking, insolvency or regulatory disputes, general commercial and corporate disputes, and construction, projects or real estate disputes. Click here to find out more about the types of roles we have on offer or contact one of our international consultants on ea@ea-int.com or call +61 2 9266 2900.

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Although the growth of the international firms tends to dominate headlines, the strong national and boutique “mid market” practices have also been putting the squeeze on the top tier and this is a trend that is set to continue. As decidedly more adaptable organisations, these firms continue to provide opportunities for lawyers seeking quality of work, opportunity to grow a practice, and a more balanced lifestyle. Mid tier firms tend to prosper off strong local relationships with institutional and government clients, and with continued pressure on in-house counsel to minimise legal spend, the flexibility of mid market firms to respond to these market changes has also seen an increase in specialised work flowing to them. We are now seeing firms with increasingly strong practices in construction, property projects, banking & finance, TMT and competition as this trend continues beyond the GFC.

Remuneration levels for mid-level and Senior Associate lawyers in medium-sized firms also rival the national top tiers, particularly when billable hours are taken into account.

In spite of recent reports of a drop in market confidence and predictions of a downturn in hiring within the mid-tier market, we are seeing those firms with strong national practices and institutional or government clients regularly hiring quality candidates. Several firms have plans for strategic growth and building quality requires careful recruitment. Such firms have budgets to attract excellent practitioners with ambition, drive and flexibility.

Lateral partner hires from top tiers are prominent with firms like Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Middletons, HWL Ebsworth, Johnson Winter & Slattery and Maddocks having added partners in key growth areas from Blake Dawson, Freehills and Baker & McKenzie in the past year.

If a move into the mid-tier is something you are considering please call one of our consultants on (02) 9266 2900 so we can keep you informed as positions arise.

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While we wake to headlines expounding the constant side-show that is the present EU-sponsored Greek bailout, EA International has continued to move Australian and New Zealand financing lawyers to teams throughout Europe this year, and there are certainly some great opportunities out there for people who want to work on the continent.

The legal markets in Frankfurt and Milan, despite what you might have read, continue to hire banking, projects and capital markets lawyers. This demand is driven both by an increase in restructuring work, and because so many German and Italian banks and Corporates have continued to invest throughout Europe and North Africa. Even with the high Bond market instability – or possibly because of it – DCM and structured finance work, and the restructuring of various structured vehicles, seems to be making up a significant portion of our clients’ practices at the moment.

In Frankfurt, we have found that Project Financing practices that have a broad international client base have continued to be busy, particularly those with clients in the energy sector. Lawyers with large-scale project experience are particularly sought after along with general finance lawyers interested in doing more project finance work, as well as asset finance which remains a key area of demand across Europe.

On the Italian front, Milan remains the finance centre of Italy and Australian/New Zealand lawyers with finance or debt capital markets backgrounds are in demand. English law teams will hire from this part of the world and language skills and EC work rights are not an obstacle.

For lawyers looking for a more exotic jurisdiction to work in, these jurisdictions present real opportunity for those with the requisite top tier finance or capital markets experience. EA International has moved many Australians to work with these magic circle firms in Europe and so is well-placed to assist lawyers looking to make the transition. Click here to find out more about the types of roles we have on offer or contact one of our international consultants on ea@ea-int.com or +61 2 9266 2900.

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Somewhat paradoxically, Abu Dhabi has been thought of by many expatriates as the ugly sister of its neighbour, Dubai. Yet Abu Dhabi is the seat of government in the United Arab Emirates, and it is also the state’s centre of industrial, commercial and cultural activities. Moreover, as the wealthiest of the emirates deriving most its income from oil and gas, Abu Dhabi supported most of the other emirates, particularly hard-struck Dubai, throughout the global financial crisis.

In doing so, Abu Dhabi halted its growth throughout the GFC, but has since started to continue its expansion. The government is looking to invest massively over the next two decades as part of the 2030 master plan, with the emirate set to outpace Dubai’s construction volume in the next few years. Vast infrastructure projects like Khalifa City and Yas Island (home of the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 GP) are the result of billions of dollars being pumped into the economy. This progress has been carefully planned and it seems as though the government is intent on expanding properly and efficiently. Not surprisingly many leading international firms are either establishing a presence in Abu Dhabi or expanding their operations there to benefit from this substantial investment.

THE LEGAL MARKET

With this expansion and the rising prices of oil and gas, it is to be expected that demand for excellent lawyers in Abu Dhabi is rising. Most of the Magic Circle firms have offices in the emirate, as do most leading US firms. Opportunity is vast in practice areas like construction, energy, oil and gas, projects and corporate, and many more. Whilst most firms have only recently received their permits to open their offices more recently and the while at this point the teams remain relatively small compared to Dubai, there is no question Abu Dhabi is the growth engine of the UAE and also offers some of the best corporate, financing and projects work in the Middle East. Unlike some of the expansion in Dubai however, the magic circle firms are growing their practices in Abu Dhabi based solely on increasing work demand, and this organic pace of growth should ensure a balanced recruitment market in the long term. For any lawyer serious about taking their career to tax-free UAE, considering Abu Dhabi as an option is a must.

LIVING IN ABU DHABI

For lawyers with young families, Abu Dhabi is ideal. Parks, beaches and play areas abound and the international schools are excellent. There is also a large and welcoming expat community which makes the social integration easier.

More generally, the expatriate standard of living is high and the fact that the region is a tax haven means remuneration for lawyers is amongst the highest in the world. Contrary to popular myth, alcohol is available (with a licence!) and English is an official language of the region. Overall, the emirate is also well organized and easy to get around, is only 1 ½ hour drive from its sister Dubai and suffers far less of the traffic issues than many of its neighbours.

If you are interested in working in Abu Dhabi, get in touch with one of our international consultants on +61 2 9266 2900 or ea@ea-int.com for a confidential discussion.

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The Perth legal market is currently one of the strongest markets in the world. While financial market instability characterises most other jurisdictions, this global base of mining and resources is continually growing and offering lawyers across a range of sectors enormous opportunities - both in terms of quality of work and career progression.

AREAS OF GROWTH

The energy and resources sectors in particular continue to grow, with massive ongoing investment spurred by the hunger for resources throughout Asia. This growth will only continue in the future, and expand beyond Asia with massive opportunities in Africa which the Federal Government has recognised with the announcement of a $30 million initiative to promote mining development, with much of this work driven out of Perth.

As a result of this economic growth, the demand for corporate and commercial projects lawyers with energy sector experience has never been greater, along with finance lawyers at all levels, up to partner. Furthermore, there has recently been a substantial demand for commercial litigation, insolvency and workplace relations lawyers, particularly at mid and senior associate levels, as part of a knock-on effect of market growth.

THE INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE

Perth’s geographical proximity to Asia and the international nature of the legal work in the region has meant that the Perth market has seen continued diversification away from the national top tier options to an increasingly international make-up. Firms like Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Norton Rose, Squire Sanders Dempsey and Ashurst have already or are in the process of establishing their offices in Perth, offering local lawyers the opportunity to work for an international firm on Asia’s doorstep. As a result, lawyers are able to experience the best of both worlds by having the chance to work for a global firm, retain their Australian lifestyle and still receive truly international exposure on the back of the firm’s strong international networks.

This situation has led to upward pressure on salaries for lawyers at all levels, with lawyers in Perth now making the same as their counterparts in Sydney. Further, mid to senior level candidates looking for genuine progression are currently spoilt for choice, with larger numbers of top quality firms looking to fill spots in similar fields.

EA International has also seen Perth become an increasingly attractive option for off-shore lawyers as well as those on the east-coast looking for a sea change to a market with a stronger demand for their skills.

EA International is a market leader in assisting lawyers with their local and cross-jurisdictional moves and has long-term, first-class relationships with many of the leading international and top tier Australian firms. This makes us well placed to assist you with your next career move. Whether you are looking for a change of lifestyle, better quality work, opportunity for progression or simply more money we can certainly guide you through the process and ensure you end up in the role that is right for you.

Click here to find out more or contact one of our consultants on ea@ea-int.com or call +61 2 9266 2900.

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The past eighteen months has seen an increasing demand for competition lawyers in various overseas jurisdictions. Both in Europe and Asia where the competition and regulatory frameworks are becoming more and more established the demand for lawyers with competition and regulatory skill set has never been greater.

EA has been assisting a range of international firms in finding suitable qualified Australian and New Zealand talent to join these international teams. We have in recent months secured roles for lawyers in Brussels, London, Hong Kong and mainland China. This a good time to consider your career options if you are a competition lawyer with between 2 and 6 years of experience gained at a leading Australian or New Zealand practice. This is a wonderful opportunity to take your career to the heart of competition law in Belgium or work on truly international and pan European matters in London. Alternatively if you are looking to secure a role in a burgeoning market then Asia offers plenty of opportunity, as the regulatory frameworks are established and international firms are growing their anti-trust and competition law teams in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing. Those with Chinese language skills are particularly sought after.

There has never been a better time for Australia’s and New Zealand’s elite competition lawyers to take their careers to the international level and EA International is best placed to provide you with the best opportunity for you.

We presently have roles with a number of UK and US firms in Brussels, London, Hong Kong and China.

For more information contact us here or give one of our international experts a call on +61 2 9266 2900.

Singapore is often forgotten by Australian and New Zealand lawyers looking to make an international move despite it offering just as much opportunity as the popular jurisdictions of Hong Kong or Tokyo.

In fact, the Singaporean economy is tipped to overtake China as the fastest growing economy in Asia. Last year, the Singaporean economy grew at an impressive 14.7% and is projected to grow at 5% this year which, given the present global financial climate and the maturity of the market is significant growth. Much of this growth is off the back of large-scale infrastructure projects in Indonesia and Singapore itself.

With this continued expansion, the legal market is also growing and many Australian law firms are seeking to establish new offices in the jurisdiction. Additionally, there are opportunities in many of the world’s leading law firms who have run practices out of Singapore for decades.

AN INTEGRATED INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTION

Our client’s practices in Singapore are intimately integrated into their global networks. Unlike the often disjointed approach taken by many Australian firms who struggle to even integrate between capital cities, most large global firms work far more closely together. As a result, as a lawyer in Singapore you would expect to spend considerable time working throughout the region and with colleagues from Hong Kong, Tokyo and London. The work is therefore primarily cross-jurisdictional and of a high quality.

LIFESTYLE

Singapore is also a particularly easy place for foreign lawyers to live due to the fact that English is an official language and because there is a strong expatriate community. Its location makes it an outstanding launch pad for travel throughout the region with the possibility to spend long weekends travelling throughout Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand or Indonesia. Furthermore, Singapore has a flat tax rate and strong relocation packages, making it a more attractive option than many other global cities. Finally, it is so close to home that it appeals to those who want to experience an international city while still being able to come home regularly and inexpensively.

Click here to find out more or contact one of our international consultants on ea@ea-int.com or call +61 2 9266 2900.

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The Paris legal market is a unique mix of high end local firms and international firms from the UK and the US. As one of the major financial centres in Europe, international firms in Paris have experienced strong growth in the last 12 months, particularly in the areas of banking & finance, projects, M&A and capital markets.

These are the areas which are particularly receptive to Australian and New Zealand lawyers, particularly those who also have a relevant UK or US qualification. Although French language skills are a significant advantage, particularly in M&A where practices tend to be locally focused, lawyers without language skills could make the move to a dedicated English practice, where they will do the same work as their counterparts in London. Currently, EA has a number of roles available for finance lawyers in Paris who have EU working rights.

Click here to find out more or contact one of our international consultants on ea@ea-int.com or call +61 2 9266 2900.

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While financial markets are a little unsteady around the world, the market for financie lawyers is consistent. There is particularly strong demand for lawyers throughout London, Continental Europe, Asia and Dubai with Magic Circle and other leading international firms. The specific type of experience that our clients are looking for varies – from project finance to general banking, asset finance and structured finance.

While merger activity increased markedly from 2010 to 2011 compared to during the GFC, there is still less demand for lawyers working in leverage finance and acquisition finance. That said, for lawyers from Australia and New Zealand, the mix of specific finance experience is considered less important than their quality of experience, the quality of the firm from which they are coming and their willingness to move into a new, often more specialized, area.

EA International currently has some exciting roles in Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London and many more places. Go to our live roles page to find out more.

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Since 2010, six global law firms have opened their doors in Australia. The recent merger between Blake Dawson and Ashurst has triggered discussion about the globalisation of the Australian legal market and the impact that the merger will have on national law firms. Many in the media are asking whether the global firms are here to stay. In reality, the better question is whether the local top tier firms are here to stay, and if so, in what form?

There is no doubt that there are more international firms on their way, and many of the leading firms in Australia like Mallesons Stephen Jacques have acknowledged they have had discussions with likely suitors. With that in mind, as a lawyer in Australia, you should really be asking what the “top tier” will look like in the next few years, and ultimately how you can position yourself to take advantage of the opportunities international firms present.

TREND TOWARDS GLOBALISATION

The globalisation of the Australian legal market is not a recent phenomenon. Firms like Allen & Overy, Clifford Chance, Norton Rose, Ashurst, DLA Piper, Holman Fenwick, and Squire Sanders join a list which already included many US firms in establishing a presence in Australia. Whether through mega-mergers like Blake Dawson and Ashurst, acquiring complete teams like Squire Sanders or building organically like Holman Fenwick, international firms are making a real success of their moves into the market. The growth of Allen & Overy and the ability of Norton Rose to completely change the image of Deacons is illustrative of this success.

As global firms continue to grow there is no doubt that clients in Australia are coming to assume that law firms operating on a global platform provide a point of difference. This very fact is what has driven the Australian firms to establish their own international networks in recent years. Ultimately, the global strategies of top firms to position themselves in the Asian legal markets is also indicative of preparing themselves for a long-term tie-up.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAWYERS

With this shift in the Australian legal scene comes great opportunity for local lawyers, and for those who want to come to Australia or return home. The approach taken by firms like Allen & Overy and Clifford Chance when coming into the market has meant that there is now real opportunity to work in Perth or Sydney in fast-growing truly international businesses with considerably stronger international platforms than any of our top tier. These are real opportunities to get in on the ground floor and make a name for yourself within an international practice. In Perth for instance, Squire Sanders – whose fourteen foundation partners were poached from Minter Ellison – is looking to have an additional 6 partners and 40 lawyers in the next six months.

Having the very best relationships with the world’s leading international firms after years of sending Australian and New Zealand lawyers to over 30 of their offices worldwide, EA International is especially well placed to advise you on your options in the new Australian offices. To hear more about the changes in the local market and how it could affect your career, please feel free to call any of our consultants for a detailed discussion on +61 2 9266 2900.

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The legal market developing in Asia presents some of the most exciting international opportunities available.

In Hong Kong, the market continues to demonstrate a strong demand for Australian lawyers. This part of the world is a truly international and dynamic hub of legal work and culture. The work is first class cross-border work throughout Asia and remuneration in the large firms is at a market leading level. Work is available in a variety of practice areas, but there is particularly high demand for lawyers in the corporate teams, with a strong emphasis on M&A, private equity and corporate funds. There is also a strong demand for banking & finance lawyers in this exciting city.

Language skills are not necessarily a pre-requisite for Hong Kong, but those with fluent to business Mandarin language skills are at great advantage. Language skills are also a great asset to lawyers looking to work in nearby Shanghai. Moving slightly further south, international firms in the vibrant city of Bangkok are also seeking experienced corporate lawyers. A slightly smaller legal market than Hong Kong, opportunities in these areas are generally harder to come by and so this is a unique moment. As in many parts of Asia, language skills are not essential but are a definite bonus.

A notable practice area of growth across Asia is energy and resources. Due to continued growth in London, Asia and the Middle East in this market, there are roles for junior to mid-level energy lawyers looking to take their careers to Asia. With a particular strength in the oil and gas sector, lawyers with experience gained from leading Australian energy teams throughout Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth are particularly well received. If you are a lawyer with at least 3 years of experience in one of these areas, email Maciek Motylinski or Michael Bromley or call +61 2 9266 2900 for a confidential discussion. Alternatively, head to our live roles page to see a sample of the roles we have available.

The Middle East is a hot-spot for lawyers. International law firms are expanding to meet the demand of the rapidly growing economies in the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. The leading international firms are focused on building their practices in projects and infrastructure, corporate M & A, finance and capital markets; however practices like real estate, IP/IT, telecommunications and dispute resolution are also starting to develop quickly.

Despite the amazing career opportunities available in the Middle East, the area is somewhat misunderstood. From a security perspective, the downturn during the GFC and the subsequent redundancies in the region have no doubt left potential candidates nervous. However, healthy growth has returned to the region over the past 18 months and there continues to be a strong demand for quality lawyers across a range of practice areas. Firms are being far more careful in their hiring strategy and are focused much more on experienced lawyers. That said, there are a select number of roles in M&A and finance available for more junior level candidates. The lessons of the GFC have been taken on board and firms continue to hire strategically and for organic growth rather than opportunism.

For experienced lawyers, the Middle East offers “sexy” work. Essentially, the work is mostly cross-border transactions in a growing market with some of the world’s most qualified legal teams. Deals often involve clients from all over the world and so there is scope for business travel to Europe and Asia. On top of that, workplaces are extremely diverse and offer scope to vastly increase your professional network. For those that are looking to start an international career, the Middle East is an excellent place to begin.

From a lifestyle perspective, expat life in the Middle East is very attractive. While not an inexpensive place to live, salaries in the region are tax free and so expats in the “millionaires’ playground” tend to enjoy a very high standard of living. The region is also an excellent jumping off point for international travel. There is also a lot to do in the region and a climate that is ideal for those who enjoy the outdoors and an active lifestyle. Dubai in particular is a great place for families, boasting a huge expat community and support network, together with excellent infrastructure and outstanding international schooling. As one of the world’s highest paying jurisdictions, this tax free haven provides great scope to maximise the lifestyle and travel opportunities on offer within the region and internationally.

EA International’s clients in the Middle East are looking for lawyers with top-tier experience. If you are a lawyer from a top-tier firm with at least 3 years experience and good academics, a move to the Middle East is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills. To find out more, email one of our international consultants, Michael Bromley or Maciek Motylinski or call +61 2 9266 2900 for a confidential discussion. To have a look at some of the roles we currently have available, go to our live roles page.

Post-review time and end of financial year, the local recruitment market is looking busy. Across Australia, firms are hiring consistently and there are a vast number of options. Boutique and mid-tier firms are currently in growth mode and opportunities abound for performing partners in a wide range of areas to take a move out from large firms.

In Sydney and Melbourne, most top and upper mid-tier firms are in the market for corporate M&A and banking and finance lawyers. Specifically, in the banking & finance area, there is a real demand for regulatory retail work and project and corporate financing experts who are mid-level or senior associates.

Looking to the East Coast more broadly, insurance litigators, particularly those with a focus on public liability and professional indemnity, are also being sought, not only in Sydney and Melbourne, but in Brisbane too. Growth in infrastructure project work has also seen increased demand for lawyers in front end construction, property development and property funds. Leadings firms in that area are searching for lawyers with between three and seven years of post-qualification experience.

Australia-wide, but specifically in the resources boom states of Western Australia and Queensland, employment lawyers with more than three years experience are being sought out by both large and boutique firms, and opportunities in this area abound.

For more information on the local market please contact Shaaron Dalton on shaaron@ea-int.com for a confidential discussion. To see a sample of the roles we have available, see our live roles page.

We are very happy to announce that Shaaron Dalton has joined our team of consultants to focus primarily on helping Australian and New Zealand lawyers find new domestic private practice roles. Shaaron provides over twelve years of strong research-based expertise in the recruitment of legal professionals at all levels including partnership.

Throughout the 1990’s, Shaaron was Principal of the Legal Division at Hamilton Jones & Koller Pty Ltd (HJK), Melbourne, handling search and selection of lawyers at all levels for top tier, mid tier and boutique specialist firms, chartered accounting firms, government departments and agencies, regulatory bodies and public companies, banks and financial institutions. From 2000 to 2010, Shaaron specialised in online recruitment as Marketing Director with Byron Media Pty Ltd, Sydney. For Shaaron’s full profile and details, go to our Experts page.

Even through the northern hemisphere summer (and the recent volatility) we have seen persistent demand for corporate lawyers all over the world and expect this to only increase in the next few months. In Hong Kong, the Middle East and London our Magic Circle and US clients are all very busy in their public and private M & A teams. With the expected strong pipeline of work over the next 12 months they expect to continue to build their practices. There are more than enough positive signs in the market to suggest increased growth, even with increased market volatility, such as Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility, Solvay’s takeover of Rhodia and Time Warner Cable's purchase of Carlyle Group's Insight Communications.

If moving to a truly global firm and working on multi-billion dollar cross-jurisdictional M & A matters is something you have always wanted to do, than there has not been a better time in the last three years to make a move. If you are a corporate or M&A lawyer with over 3 years of experience from a top-tier practice with honours level academics, we would certainly be happy to discuss your options in more detail. Give us a call or send us an email to find out more. For a sample of some of the opportunities we have to offer, please see our live roles page and select your area of interest.

Despite the current volatility of global equity markets, the demand for strong Australian and New Zealand lawyers across the globe has certainly not softened. In light of the negative press predicting the next great depression, it is natural it fear that we are returning to the recruitment market of 2008-2009. That however, could not be further from the truth.

Firstly, at the time of the GFC, many large international firms had made the mistake of expanding too quickly, and the mass redundancies seen during this period was a winding back of this expansion. Over the last three years most firms battened down the hatches and moved into a period of consolidation where they simply hired to replace. Firms are now seeing retention rates stabilise at normal historic levels (around 15%), resulting in firm's constant need to hire to replace. This conservative approach has seen not seen growth in firm size, but means there is always opportunity despite volatility.

Secondly, even though it may seem like the sky is falling in, global growth was over 5% last year, largely driven by Asia and other emerging markets. Further, global M & A activity is markedly higher than it has been since 2007, with this year seeing a seven-fold increase in the value of public hostile M & A. So although things are unsteady in the US and Europe, global growth continues and we are not moving backwards. Emerging markets will continue to be the drivers for this expansion in the future.

So what does this mean for you? It means firms are still hiring in London, but also in Amsterdam, Brussels, Frankfurst, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore and Hong Kong and we have hundreds of options in these places for lawyers with the right skill sets and experience in Corporate M & A, Banking & Finance, Projects, Financial Services or Litigation.

Plenty of volatility, but plenty more opportunity.

In mid-2011, EA International has seen a rise in demand for Australian and New Zealand lawyers in continental Europe. In Amsterdam, Brussels and Frankfurt our international clients are looking for experienced lawyers in the areas of competition, debt capital markets, structured finance and project finance.

This is an exciting opportunity for lawyers in these areas to experience a new way of life in an amazing European destination. The high level, cross-border work will be conducted in English and you will have the opportunity to work in a dynamic, international team. We have moved a number of people to these practices over the years and the partners are therefore well aware of the strengths of Australian and New Zealand lawyers and everyone has always given us positive feedback on how easy the moves have been.

If you have 3 or more years of relevant post admission experience in the competition, capital markets, banking or project finance space from a leading national or international practice and strong academics, we have a lot to offer. For a sample of some of the roles please see our live roles page and select your practice area of interest or for a more details discussion feel free to contact Michael or Maciek directly.

Recent weeks have seen a continuation of increased levels of recruitment activity in London, Asia and the Middle East. Following on the heels of firms that have already this year conducted recruitment campaigns in Australia for their global offices it seems more are planned. EA international is at the forefront in managing recruitment campaigns in Australia for leading international firms and with more such events penned in for September now is a good time to evaluate your plans even if your timing is for early to mid-2012.

Even if you are unsure such recruitment drives provide a unique opportunity to meet with relevant partners on the ground in Sydney, Auckland, Brisbane and Melbourne that will no doubt help you form a view. For a detailed brief on upcoming global recruitment campaigns in locations like London, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore as well as continental Europe give one of our international experts a call on +61 2 9266 2900 or email us at our contact us page.

It won’t come as news to anyone that the cost of living in Australia’s capital cities has skyrocketed over the last few years and shows no sign of abatement. Whether it is the price of property (in Sydney and Melbourne over 9 x median income), the cost of consumables and staples or the ever increasing cost of energy there is no doubt that although we live in the lucky country, it is an expensive place to be.

(See: www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/less-bang-for-global-buck-in-our-capitals/story-e6frg6nf-1226090205317)

For lawyers, particularly those outside of the partnership, even though they make relatively good incomes it is still incredibly difficult to actually get ahead (or buy your own home) in a capital city. This desire to build a nest egg and ultimately enter the housing market has been a key motivator for young professionals to spend some time in an overseas jurisdiction.

Yet while the present strength of the Australian dollar has certainly brought this into question, what most people fail to see is that given you will spend significantly less money in many of these cities you will still be able to save far more than you can in Australia. Naturally if you go to Cayman or Moscow or the Middle East with low tax rates and high salaries it is an easy equation to work out, however for the majority of lawyers who first move to London it has been a cause of concern. Clearly London has never been the place to go simply for the money. Yet the negativity we sometimes see around the strength in the dollar is actually misplaced when considered in light of the real cost of living in London (and compared to that here). You can still save money, enjoy the European experience and come back a much better lawyer whether the Australian dollar remains at historical highs or returns to its long term average.

Australia’s resources boom has had a dramatic impact on the legal market’s in Perth and Brisbane. With global law firms opening offices in Perth on the back of skyrocketing levels of investment in mining and energy projects, the market for lawyers is booming. The story is much the same in Brisbane, with the growth mostly prompted by an increase in large-scale infrastructure projects and extraction of resources such as coal seam gas.

EA International has long worked with the leading firms in these jurisdictions and has seen a marked increase in the number of opportunities available in energy and resources, construction, infrastructure and corporate. These highly competitive, fast-growing legal markets are offering increasingly lucrative deals to lawyers with such experience.

If you are a lawyer with experience in one of these areas from a leading national or top tier firm looking to take you career to the heart of the resources boom, we would like to hear from you. For a sample of some of the roles on offer see our live roles page and select your practice area of interest.

EA International has long worked with many of the leading UK and US law firms in the Middle East.

and we are pleased to inform a marked increase in the level of activity in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. We are now seeing a consistent demand for quality transactional lawyers across a range of practice areas including banking and finance, corporate/M&A, energy and resources and major projects.

(Watch: Dubai Tourism Campaign Video)

If you are a lawyer with 3+ years of experience in one of these areas from a leading national or top tier firm looking to take you career to the Middle East we would like to hear from you. For a sample of some of the roles on offer see our live roles page and select your practice area of interest.

The Lawyer, the UK’s leading legal publication.

Linklaters sent partners and HR representatives from various offices including London and the Middle East, interviewing over 50 outstanding lawyers in Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland.

The firm ultimately hired across a range of global offices and practice areas including banking and finance, corporate/M&A, capital markets, energy and resources, major projects and litigation. Linklaters was the first international firms to conduct such a campaign since 2008 and we are pleased to have been able to manage such a significant global push by one of the world’s pre-eminent commercial firms. The campaign was a strong demonstration of Linklaters continued commitment to the region and their long history of hiring Australia and New Zealand’s best legal talent.

Following on from the campaign make no mistake that Linklaters continues to want to hear from great lawyers across a broad spectrum of practice groups and we are naturally well placed to discuss these options with you further. If you would like to find out more please contact Maciek Motylinski or Michael Bromley for a confidential discussion.