Former Freehills managing partner Mike Ferraro is set to return to Freehlls after a stint as general counsel at BHP. Ferraro’s longer term role will be in practice group management, although Freehills managing partner Gavin Bell said that Ferraro would also be assisting senior management with “strategic projects”.

The move demonstrates the fluidity of movements between in-house and private practice, best demonstrated by the fact that Ferraro was replaced at BHP by ex-Blake Dawson partner David Williamson. Freehills also recently lost senior partner Leon Pasternak to Merrill Lynch.

Ferraro will commence his new role in August.