No matter how prestigious a firm Mallesons may be, there appears to be a steady stream of senior associates leaving to join mid-tier firms.

The latest defection has been to Corrs Chambers Westgarth, which has appointed Michael Chaaya as a corporate partner. Chaaya, who has been a senior associate at Mallesons for more than 11 years and seconded in house at a number of major financial clients, was approached for the role by Corrs CEO John Denton.

In April last year Perth boutique firm Cochrane Lishman lured senior associate Justin Harris from Mallesons with a partnership role, with his former colleague Paul Vinci following soon after as well. Last August Maddocks’ Melbourne office appointed Mallesons senior associate Shahriar Mofakhami to partnership and his associate Tina Savona to senior associate level.

Whether these departures are part of a natural progression by associates wanting to climb the ladder more rapidly than the Mallesons hierarchy has in mind remains to be seen – watch this space.