John Tivey, the lead partner in the mining practice at Freehills, is leaving the Australian firm to join White & Case in Hong Kong, reports The Asian Lawyer.

Freehills has confirmed that Tivey has resigned and will be joining White & Case later in the year. In a statement, chief executive partner Gavin Bell called Tivey’s departure “regrettable” but said the firm’s mining practice would remain strong.