Clyde & Co has expanded its network in Australia with the opening of an office in Brisbane, and has brought three partners from Sparke Helmore on board.

This is the firm’s fourth office in the country, and its 40th globally.

The new office will be headed by Matthew Pokarier, who was at Sparkes for about six years, with support from former colleagues Jacinta Long and Maxine Tills. All three specialise in insurance-related matters, as well as  commercial litigation.

Clyde & Co plans to appoint 20 more lawyers in the Brisbane office by the end of the year, the firm said in a statement. The move is expected to bolster the firm’s headcount in Australia to more than 100.

Clyde & Co first entered the Australia market in 2012, opening offices in Sydney and Perth, and acquiring a specialist insurance team from Australian firm Allens. In 2013, the firm launched a Melbourne office.