Not all partners at Salter Power followed the firm into its three-way merger with Middletons and Franklyn Legal.
 
Salter Power's ex-managing partner Stephen Power, ex-senior associate Cathy Donaldson and LionOre Mining general counsel Mark Rodda have formed a new boutique firm called Napier Legal.
 
The group did not join Middletons because they believed a mid-tier firm offered the worst of both worlds: such firms had neither the advantages of scale associated with a large firm nor the flexibility of a boutique firm, they said.

Napier's boutique model will offer clients direct service with relatively low overhead costs, but the firm may find itself competing for a dwindling supply of resources work. Despite this, the firm is optimistic enough to be planning the hiring of up to three more lawyers with resources, M&A and capital raising experience.
 
The firm is currently acting for Russian resources company Norilsk Nickel and expects to service other clients operating in the oil, gas or hard rock area.