Major international law firms in the U.K. are rushing to hire top junior talent from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to boost their associate ranks amid a sustained surge of deal activity.

Three U.K. managing partners of international law firms have said that they are targeting associate hires from regions such as Australia and New Zealand, with one leader saying that the ease with which Australasian junior lawyers can acquire U.K. visas is a key reason behind the hiring spree.