Australian law firm Gadens has sought to boost its practices in Perth and Singapore with two new appointments.

Ex-Herbert Smith Freehills banking partner Doug Stipanicev has been made managing partner of the Perth office and will focus on marketing the brand there, whilst Sydney partner Mark Skinner is to relocate to Singapore to launch a banking, finance and property practice in Asia.

Stipanicev takes over from long term office head David Albrecht, who has come to the end of his term.

He joined Gadens in 2012 and was previously a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills for over 20 years. His practice concentrates on corporate and institutional financing and debt.

The Perth office, along with those in Brisbane, Melbourne and South Australia, previously had a federated arrangement with the Sydney headquartered firm, but became financially integrated with Gadens in November 2012.

The firm is now looking to raise the profile of Gadens in the city. In September it hired David Perks from King & Wood Mallesons and now has nine partners on the ground.

Meanwhile in Singapore the firm is looking to tap more work coming from Asian companies investing in Australia.

Mark Skinner will move to the base from Sydney to launch a banking, finance and property practice there, joining existing partner Mark Rathbone who focuses on resources work.

Rathbone was previously counsel at Clifford Chance, but joined the firm in January last year to launch its Singapore office, which opened in May.

It is understood that the firm is also mulling other opportunities in Asia. It joins a string of Australian firms seeking to ramp up revenues from the region amid a slowdown in M&A in their home market.

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