Allen & Overy (A&O) has added its first equity capital markets (ECM) specialist partner in Australia with the hire of Freehills corporate partner Tony Sparks.

Sparks, who has been a partner at Freehills since 2006, joined the magic circle firm today (18 August) as a partner in the Sydney office. His practice focuses on corporate and commercial transactions including IPOs and secondary offerings, public and private M&A, hybrid and retail bond issuances, structured products and privatisations.