Mills Oakley is continuing its Eastern seaboard expansion with the appointment of three new partners across Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The appointments reaffirm Mills Oakley as one of the fastest growing firms in Australia, with the partnership now totalling 37, up nearly 10 percent in just 12 months. The new partners Michael Nixon, Catherine Hallgath and Mark Wenn are all lateral hires.

Nixon has joined as a partner in the firm’s Brisbane property practice. He comes to Mills Oakley from Norton Rose where he was in the commercial real estate team. He acts for large institutional investors on real estate asset investment and development, the acquisition and disposal of shopping centres and a range of corporate transactions. Originally from the UK, Nixon has worked for Downs Solicitors and Nabarro, before moving to Australia to take up a senior associate role at Baker & McKenzie.

Hallgath has joined Mills Oakley’s Sydney property team from Swaab Attorneys where she was also a partner. As a specialist in property law who has worked with a number of leading Australian and Asian property owners Hallgath has considerable expertise in the acquisition and sale of commercial office blocks, leasing, leasing disputes and tenant advisory services.

Lastly, Wenn joins Mills Oakley’s Melbourne office from Leonard Legal, as a partner in the commercial litigation team. He has litigation experience in the areas of banking and finance, personal property securities, trade practices, consumer law, property, business and commercial disputes, employment and insolvency law disputes.