Law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth is holding out the prospect of market-leading pay for partners, as firm senior partner and CEO Gavin MacLaren poaches top lawyers from rival firms and works to build an international-style firm in the Australian market.

MacLaren won’t comment on partner pay, but people familiar with the situation said the firm’s top-paid partners earned A$6.5 million (US$4.3 million) in the most recent financial year.