Dentons has hired former Norton Rose Fulbright special counsel Guy Albeck to join the firm in Melbourne, as a partner in its real estate practice.

Albeck has more than 15 years' experience advising on all stages of property development and has a special focus on sales, acquisitions and disposals, as well as leasing, Dentons said. He joins from local firm Macpherson Kelley, where he was a principal. He previously worked at Norton Rose Fulbright.

"Dentons is well known for its strong real estate practice. Adding Guy to our Melbourne team will further enhance our offering for clients," Dentons Australia region chair and chief executive Doug Stipanicev said in a statement.

The appointment is another step in Dentons' strategy to expand in Australia, Stipanicev said. The firm has made hires in the past year in Melbourne across corporate, life sciences and intellectual property and technology.

Dentons' real estate practice has nine partners and 29 other qualified lawyers and is one of the fastest-growing real estate groups in Australia, the firm said. In May 2018, it added three real estate partners and teams in two new locations – Brisbane and Melbourne.

Albeck said his move was motivated by the opportunities a global law firm can bring.

"Dentons' global reach and commitment to offering innovative solutions to clients is very exciting," he said.

In January, Dentons absorbed Adelaide-based specialist commercial firm Fisher Jeffries, a South Australian member firm of Gadens' national practice. All but one of Fisher Jeffries' 14 partners joined the firm. Fisher Jeffries became a member firm of Gadens in 2004 and has been an associate firm of Dentons since 2016.

Dentons expanded into Australia in December 2016 by merging with three Gadens offices, but legacy offices in Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide were not part of the combination.

In January, Dentons lost an eight-lawyer employment team, led by former national employment and safety head Mark Sant, an ex-Gadens partner, to HFW.

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