Australia’s largest legal partnership has just grown even bigger.
HWL Ebsworth is adding serious muscle to its South Australian practice with the acquisition of respected Adelaide-based firm Botten Levinson Lawyers. The deal, effective 1 August, sees four of the firm’s six principals making the move to HWL, joining as partners and strengthening its environmental and planning bench.
The incoming partners – James Levinson, Ali Field, Rosie Jervis, and Pip Metljak – bring considerable expertise in a field that’s seeing growing client demand, particularly in the face of increased regulatory scrutiny and development pressures. Their arrival boosts HWL’s Adelaide partnership count to 25 and adds to the firm’s national footprint of nearly 1,800 staff across nine offices.
Botten Levinson’s decision to fold into HWL marks a vote of confidence in the BigLaw firm’s reach and resources. According to Levinson, the transition offers “an exciting chapter” and will give clients access to “a national network of specialists” without sacrificing the tailored, high-quality advice they’ve come to expect.
While two of Botten Levinson’s principals have opted not to make the leap (for personal reasons), HWL is taking a no-hard-feelings approach. “We were hopeful all six would come on board,” said Levinson, “but we wish our colleagues every success.”
HWL chief executive Russell Mailler called the new arrivals “a well-regarded team” whose expertise complements the firm’s already strong environmental and planning practice nationally. Jamie Restas, HWL’s chair of partners, described the move as a strategic play to broaden client offerings in the state, calling the union a blend of “market-leading expertise” and “full-service capability.”
The acquisition comes just weeks after HWL made headlines for promoting over 100 professionals across its offices – including six to its national partnership – and continues the firm’s steady expansion despite ongoing market challenges.
With a presence in every Australian capital city (plus Norwest), and now a stronger hold in Adelaide, HWL continues to walk the talk on national scale and specialist depth.
As Mailler put it: “This is another step toward our goal of providing exceptional service to clients in every corner of the country.”
