Ashurst has recruited two Sydney partners from Corrs Chambers Westgarth, including the latter firm's banking and finance practice head.
Shawn Wytenburg and Robert Ritchie are joining Ashurst's financial services practice.
Formerly Corrs Chambers' banking and finance head, Wytenburg specializes in leveraged and acquisition finance. Last year, he advised a group of lenders including Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley and UBS AG that backed Boston-based Bain Capital's $1.2 billion acquisition of Australian business software developer MYOB Ltd., from a consortium led by Sydney's Archer Capital Pty. Ltd.
Ritchie specializes in corporate finance and domestic and cross-border projects with a particular focus on Asian-based finance work. Last year, he advised the State Bank of India on its $1.1 billion financing of coal importer Adani Enterprises Ltd.'s acquisition of Queensland's Abbot Point Coal Terminal. In March, he also advised JPMorgan Chase & Co. and The Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc. as underwriters of a $2 billion senior notes offering by Perth-based Fortescue Metals Group Ltd.
Ashurst has almost 1,000 lawyers in Australia via a merger agreement with the former Blake Dawson that took effect March 1.
