Mallesons Stephen Jaques will add a new partner in Sydney following the announcement that Holman Fenwick Willan partner Alex Baykitch will join the firm in the second quarter of 2012.

Baykitch is an experienced arbitrator and has previously conducted successful litigation in the Supreme, Federal and High Courts of Australia as well as expert determinations, references, mediations and other alternative forms of dispute resolution. He has particular experience in representing clients in domestic and international arbitrations arising from shipping, oil and gas and commodities disputes.

Mallesons has already appointed a new partner this year with the appointment of Sally Audeyev in Perth. Audeyev joined the firm from Blake Dawson where she was a senior associate in the M&A practice.

The firm promoted seven staff to the partnership on January 1 including Nicola Charlston in Melbourne, Stefan Luke in Brisbane, Alex Morris and Michael Causer in Sydney, Dan Kynaston and Paul Crawford in Canberra and lastly Brad Galvin in Hong Kong.