Not all partners who worked for Dibbs Abbott Stillman moved to Thomson Playford Cutlers when the two firms merged. Partner Paul Noonan was one who looked for other opportunities at Herbert Geer.
 
Herbert Geer's national growth strategy and 'collegiate' working environment attracted Noonan to the firm. He also knew a number of partners who he had previously worked with. "I knew Vicki Sharp, Chris Hartigan, Louise Russell and Luci Mumme - all from Clayton Utz. I'm really positive about the working culture here because what they've done is maintained the smaller firm culture, but married it with the quality you would expect from a much larger one," he said.
 
Noonan first contacted the firm's head of telecommunications, Graham Phillips, who happened to be recruiting. And, after some discussion with Phillips and managing partner Bill Fazio, he decided this was the firm for him.
 
Since hearing news of Noonan's decision to join Herbert Geer, his clients have been positive about the move. They include technology and financial services companies, and most notably Eleanor Curtain Publishing, which recently established a US-based subsidiary and undertook a publishing project in Asia.
 
The firm also recently appointed Ian Wright to partnership at its planning, government and infrastructure group in Brisbane. He was formerly a partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth and acted on drafting land use planning, infrastructure planning and local law instruments for development corporations, and both state and local governments. Former Corrs senior associates Samantha Johnson and Ben Caldwell have been appointed as special counsel.