The largest of the Australian firms in terms of lawyers and global coverage, Minter Ellison has invested heavily in building itself up into a companion, rather than competitor, to the US and UK practices in Asia and Europe.

The firm has seen success in its first full financial year under the stewardship of management consultant Guy Templeton, who was recruited as chief executive in February 2005.

The firm has looked to focus on being more selective in the type of work it takes on, upping its consistency and instilling a more performance-based culture.

Minters has a large Asian network and has been bolstered with roles in such mega-deals as advising Las Vegas Sands on its £6.6bn ($12bn) casino project in Macau, out of its Hong Kong office, and German pharmaceuticals giant Bayer on its £1.65bn ($3bn) chemical plant in Shanghai, where it has a small presence. The firm has no immediate plans to open in Beijing, but keeps the situation under regular review.

Minters is also looking to spread its employment law offering through Asia. Employment is a key part of its San Francisco operation, making it the only Australian firm to have a US outlet. The firm targets US companies, primarily the Silicon Valley tech lot, with Asia Pacific outlets.

The firm is one of two Australian firms to maintain a London office, which has proved its worth through its advice to key domestic client Consolidated Press Holdings on a joint venture to operate Europe’s largest integrated hotel, retail and casino complex on the outskirts of Moscow.

Financially, the firm keeps a separate profit pool for its New Zealand, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Darwin and Perth offices, while the core domestic markets of Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne and the international offices share another.

Revenue has remained fairly static at last year, although with Templeton at the reins, the average profit per equity partner has increased by some 13 per cent to £294,000.

• The Top 100: 76-100