Australian firm Minter Ellison has hired former DLA insurance head for Hong Kong Will Harrison to lead its own insurance and corporate risk practice in Asia and Western Australia.

Harrison, who exited from the UK outfit in September 2013 amid a string of departures, joined DLA in 2007 and was previously a senior associate at magic circle firm Clifford Chance in Hong Kong.

His practice focuses on financial lines and speciality insurance, in particular directors & officers (D&O) liability, professional indemnity, fidelity and product liability insurance. He also specialises in insurance litigation – acting as defence counsel for insurers and customers.

Among his biggest deals include high profile D&O and professional negligence matters such as the Grant Thornton negligence litigation in Hong Kong, Barings Bank collapse negligence action in London and the London Metal Exchange aluminium cartel class action in the US.

His non-contentious insurance practice includes advising insurers, reinsurers and intermediaries on regulatory matters and investigations, product development and drafting.

Melbourne-based partner Peter Coats will continue to oversee Minter Ellison's domestic insurance group.

The Australian firm's hire of Harrison comes as it continues to bolster its non-domestic practice.

In 2013 then managing partner John Weber told Legal Week the firm was looking to grow its Asia group in the face of deteriorating domestic conditions, and since around 25% of its revenue was generated from offshore work.

The big six firm – ranked alongside Allens, Clayton Utz, Herbert Smith Freehills, Ashurst Australia and King & Wood Mallesons – had offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing and Ulaanbaatar but was also mulling plans for a Singapore launch.

As yet the firm has confirmed no details about Singapore, but it has launched an Asia tax practice with the hire of two tax specialists from Ernst and Young (EY) in Hong Kong.

It has also added two high profile Asian lawyers in Greater China, namely New York qualified corporate lawyer Jem Li, previously the managing partner for US firm Winston & Strawn's Beijing office, and projects specialist Rebecca Silli, formerly the head of French outfit Gide Loyrette Nouel's Hong Kong base.

The strategy is contrary to that of the one other remaining independent big six outfit in Australia Clayton Utz, which in June last year pulled out of Hong Kong, ending its association with local firm Haley & Co to focus on Australian work.

In December, Minter Ellison reported revenues of A$418m (£223.9) for the financial year ending June 2014, representing a marginal increase on a turnover of A$416m (£222.8) for the previous year.

The firm also reported a total headcount of 200 partners and 591 lawyers by the end of the period, against 203 partners and 585 lawyers in June 2013.

A Legal Week survey in October showed that Australia's other top tier firms collectively shrank their partnerships by 14% and non-partner counts by 20% between September 2009 and September 2014. At the time Minter Ellison declined to reveal figures.