The changing face of Perth law

THE legal landscape in Perth is as dynamic as it has ever been with new market entrants, unexpected mergers and surprise splits making waves in recent months.

One small Subiaco-based firm has been operating under a business model never before seen in Australia.

Balance Legal managing director Ken Jagger, who has run his secondment-style law firm with fewer than 10 lawyers since July last year, believes it's recession-proof.

"I think the model suits the downturn because we're aiming at the big corporates," Mr Jagger said. "They [big corporates] are doing more in-house work with the same or less resources so there's still a lot of work on and projects happening. So what we're offering, which is a short-term help, is actually finding a mark in the recession."

Last month, Hammond Worthington Lawyers principal John Hammond told WA Business News that, after 17 years, he will split up his practice next week.

There will be three separate entities as of April 27 - Hammond Legal, Doray Solicitors, and MGB Legal. Hammond Legal will comprise five lawyers, MGB Legal in East Perth will include three lawyers, and Doray Solicitors will focus solely on family law.

Mid-sized firm Christensen Vaughan announced plans to join national firm, Gadens Lawyers, from May 1, creating a firm of six partners and 45 staff.

These changes were in addition to eastern states-based law firm, Middletons, merging with two of Perth's boutique corporate law firms, Salter Power and Franklyn Legal in December, forming an office comprising eight partners and a total of 30 legal staff.