Gadens Lawyers, one of Australia’s largest law firms, is set to merge with Brisbane-based MacGillivrays.

The merger with MacGillivrays, a 17-lawyer firm including eight partners, will position Gadens to capitalize on a rebound in Queensland’s economy and bolster its local banking and finance practice, Brisbane chairman Paul Spiro said in a statement.

In addition to banking and finance, the 50-year-old MacGillivrays focuses on estate planning, dispute resolution, and property and commercial law services. The firm also is Queensland’s largest specialist retail mortgage documentation practice and one of the largest in Australia, according to the statement. MacGillivrays has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Mooloolaba, and Gold Coast, as well as its Brisbane headquarters. 
 
The 550-lawyer Gadens, which has six national offices, also recently launched its second overseas operation, this time in Singapore. The firm hired Clifford Chance energy counsel Marc Rathbone, who relocated from Sydney, to lead the team.