Baker & McKenzie poaches managing partner from Dunhills

Baker & McKenzie has poached the managing partner of Dunhill Madden Butler in Melbourne to head up its Australian operation.

David Nathan has been confirmed as the national managing partner, ending a four-month hunt for a new leader after Paul Malliate resigned in July.

Nathan's departure from Dunhill came as he fought to rebuild the embattled firm after 27 Sydney partner and 125 lawyers defected to the legal branch of Big Five accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Nathan, who takes up his new post at Baker & McKenzie in January said he wanted a new challenge after 16 years at Dunhill.

He says he began negotiations with Baker & McKenzie before the mass defections from Dunhill took place in September.

He will be succeeded at Dunhill by corporate lawyer, Trevor Lloyd.