Baker McKenzie has hired banking and finance partner Alastair Gourlay for its Sydney office, the latest in a string of Australian departures from UK firm Clifford Chance.

The firm has also engaged competition law partner Lynsey Edgar from Dentons, bringing the total number of new partners at the firm to 12 so far in 2019.

Edgar advises on competition, regulatory and consumer law – advising on cartels, anticompetitive arrangements, merger clearance, exclusive dealing, misuse of market power, access, supply chain arrangements and the impact of competition law on various commercial activities, Baker McKenzie said in a statement.

She has significant experience acting for clients facing regulatory investigations and represents clients in litigation commenced under the Competition and Consumer Act.

"Our firm continues to augment practices where strong demand exists for our services," said Baker McKenzie's national managing partner Anthony Foley.

"Both Lynsey and Alastair join our firm at a time when our clients are relying more on our transactional capabilities and when our market research tells us that a key challenge for businesses is an increasing compliance and regulatory burden. These appointments will continue to ensure our clients access the best possible advice in meeting whatever challenges they face whilst also seizing opportunities to grow their business."

Gourlay was a legal counsel at Clifford Chase for close to four years before joining Baker McKenzie last month.

He specialises in cross-border leveraged finance, funds finance, real estate finance, general corporate finance and financing by alternative capital providers.

Gourlay is the latest in a string of departures from Clifford Chance in Australia.

In June, partner Jennifer Hill and counsel Sean Houthuysen left the Perth office.

Also in Perth, global oil and gas group co-head Tracey Renshaw departed for DLA Piper's London office in May; and former office head Paul Lingard joined Norton Rose Fulbright last October.

In 2016, Clifford Chance's former Australia managing partner Mark Pistilli and fellow founding partner Danny Simmons left to launch their own Sydney boutique firm.

Clifford chance thanked Gourlay for his contribution and wished him well.

Dentons declined to comment on Edgar's hire. The firm announced last month it would expand to New Zealand.

This story has been updated to add news of the firm's hire from Dentons.