Lavan Legal has announced two new hires, making a total of five new faces this year. The firm, capitalising on the West Australian resources boom, has hired former Edwards Wallace solicitor Delara Sarban and ex-Blake Dawson lawyer Beth Lee, who joins from Canberra.

Sarban, who has worked in media law, defamation and litigation, has joined Lavan Legal’s commercial advice and litigation practice while Lee, experienced in commercial property law, joins the firm’s property services practice. Deputy managing partner Dean Hely said both lawyers’ expertise would be welcomed by their respective practice groups. “It is a busy time at Lavan Legal and we are actively recruiting in all areas of the firm. We have had a great response at junior and senior levels and we look forward to making a number of other new appointment announcements very soon,” he said.

Sarban and Lee come only months after the appointment of employment law specialist Trent Petherick and associate Greg Nairn, who joined the firm’s construction and contracts team. Petherick joined from New Zealand firm Gresson Grayson and Nairn joined from Perth firm Macdonald Rudder. The firm’s profile was also boosted by the announcement in February that former Blake Dawson practice head Leigh Warnick will join on May 23. Graham Nagle, formerly of Minter Ellison, and Simon Adams, former corporate counsel for Synergy, have also recently been appointed.

Since opening in April 2006 Lavan legal has won panel appointments with blue chip clients including Woodside Petroleum, Santos, Westpac, St George, NAB, Bank of China and HSBC.