A year after it raided Allens for its Australian launch, Clyde & Co has unveiled a second wave of expansion with partner hires from King & Wood Mallesons, Norton Rose and HWL Ebsworth.

In a step beyond its previous insurance focus in Australia, the firm has announced the launch of a Perth-based projects & construction practice. The practice will spearheaded by two new recruits: Beth Cubitt, a construction specialist and 12 year veteran of King & Wood Mallesons, and mining & energy infrastructure specialist Glen Warwick, previously of Norton Rose.

Clyde & Co’s infrastructure sector practice in Australia will be particularly aimed at international players on both an inbound and outbound basis, and leveraging the firm’s Asia Pacific and emerging market presence.

“What we are doing is quite deliberately pursuing a strategy of expansion in the infrastructure space at a time when a number of firms are retrenching,” said partner David McElveney. “A number of our international clients have indicated that they would like to see us with a presence in Australia. We have then specifically targeted Glen and Beth in Perth on the basis of their quality and expertise, in addition to the esteem with which they are held in the Western Australian market. We aim to be a force in the market from day one.”

Clyde & Co has also made a lateral hire in Melbourne, recruiting shipping, trade and commodities specialist Maurice Thompson from HWL Ebsworth. With a significant practice across both Victoria and Western Australia, Thompson will be joined by senior associates Renee Amundsen and James Cooper.

In other news on the international front, litigation specialist Quinn Emanuel has opened its doors in Australia this week. A full interview with founding partner John Quinn and Australian recruits Michael Mills and Michelle Fox will be published in next Tuesday's newsletter.