Simmons & Simmons and CMS Cameron McKenna have each seen a partner leave to join Freehills as the Australian firm moves to bulk up its IT and communications practice.

Simmons' Hong Kong-based Asia head of information, communications and technology Damien Bailey is set to join the firm's Sydney office in October, while CMS City technology partner Yuban Moodley will join the Brisbane office as executive counsel.

The additions come as part of a triple hire for Freehills, which has also recruited Minter Ellison partner Keith Robinson in Sydney as head of IT and communications.

Bailey has been a partner with Simmons since 2008, when he joined from Minter Ellison's Hong Kong office, where he was head of technology, media and telecoms in Greater China.

Moodley, a partner in CMS's London technology and sourcing group, has advised clients including Lloyds, HSBC, Zurich, Royal Mail and National Australia Group on IT, outsourcing, payment services, data protection, IP and general commercial contracts.

Commenting on the hires, Freehills chief executive Gavin Bell said the firm had identified IT and communications as having strong growth potential and therefore wanted to invest in a team.

He said: "Technology and communications are the backbone of every business. We welcome and are excited that three leading practitioners in the field are joining the Freehills team. We see a great opportunity to grow our business and are investing heavily in the national practice to support the increasing demand from our clients."

The expansion comes as growing numbers of UK and US firms move to enter the Australian legal market – in part to access strong trade flows with China.