Ms Lester - who will co-head the Sydney and Perth firms when they open this year - says that there has been a dramatic decrease in the level of Australian-generated corporate work. She attributes this to the services of procurement specialists, the rise of in-house lawyers and competition. The large national or local firms have grown smaller since 2010 - 'out of necessity', according to Ms Lester. 

July opening

Hogan Lovells, which expects to grow to 30  lawyers in the country, plans to focus on the high end of international work. Its offices are due to open in July and will be formally launched later in the year. The firm expects to have about seven partners in Sydney and three in Perth.

Husband and wife

Ms Lester will be the co-head of the firm in Australia, along with her partner Tim. Both were partners in Allens. Hogan Lovells said of the couple: 'They have led some of the largest and most complex transactions completed in Australia and regionally over recent years.' Sources: Lawyers Weekly and Hogan Lovells