Ex-Linklaters managing associate Ben Sandstad has returned to Clayton Utz as a partner after working abroad for four years.

Sandstad joined Linklaters in 2004 and was based at the magic circle firm's Hong Kong and Tokyo offices. He said he decided to move back in part to be closer to family and friends.

"I kept in touch with Clayton Utz and told them I was thinking about coming back. They had a role they wanted to fill and I took it - it was good timing," he said.

He previously acted on Korean mortgage and assets backed transactions, various securitisations in Asia, residential mortgage backed securities and asset backed securities work for Australian banks.

Since returning he noticed that despite the global financial crisis there is still considerable activity in the Australian market. "At the moment securitisation is a very sophisticated and challenging here - you get challenging deals more regularly," he said.

He expects to mostly work with the same colleagues he used to work with before leaving, who have also entered partnership.