Western Australian firm Christensen Vaughan, previously part of the Kennedy Strang legal group, has recently agreed to merge with Gadens Lawyers in Perth.
 
The move will complement both firms' practices and boost staff numbers. "We see this as a growth model. The combined staff will be able to access more work under the Gadens brand. We have a large insolvency practice at Christensen Vaughan, and we will be able to tie this into Gadens' banking connections," said Christensen Vaughan's managing partner Lee Christensen.
 
Christensen Vaughan had become increasingly interested in tapping into the national client market. It was also looking to broaden its boutique practices. Once the merger takes effect on 1 May, the combined entities will operate under the Gadens brand and the Perth operation will consist of six partners and 45 other staff. Christensen Vaughan partner Anthony Connor will be named the new managing partner, while Christensen himself will continue working as an insolvency litigation partner.
 
No employees are expected to be made redundant following the merger. "This is a merger where one plus one will equal more than two. It's an opportunity to provide clients with more staff and create career paths at both firms. It will also fill voids at both firms to be a stronger combined practice," said Christensen.
 
The enlarged office will service practice areas such as corporate & commercial, banking & finance, insolvency, property, litigation, and infrastructure, among others. Gadens currently has offices in every mainland Australian state in addition to Papua New Guinea.