Australian top-tier firm Gilbert + Tobin has poached banking and finance partner Peter Doyle, who spent 38 years at King & Wood Mallesons.

Doyle specialises in project and infrastructure finance and has acted for sponsors and financiers in major infrastructure, energy and resources project financings and on key social infrastructure projects.

"A highly ranked practitioner, Peter is a leader in his field and brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience and a reputation for having a deep understanding of his clients' businesses," Gilbert + Tobin said in a statement.

Separately, the firm has hired real estate and projects partner Elias Stephen from national firm MinterEllison. Stephen is an experienced real estate partner whose clients include leading national and international listed property trusts, real estate funds, private equity groups, investment banks and high-net-worth family offices, the firm said.

"We are delighted to welcome Peter and Elias to G+T. They will both help us to further build our market-leading practice in major corporate transactions – with a focus on infrastructure and real estate respectively," managing partner Danny Gilbert said in a statement.