DLA Piper has hired a five-partner mergers and acquisitions team in Melbourne from Norton Rose Fulbright, including Australia corporate co-head Shane Bilardi.

As well as Bilardi, James Stewart, Jyoti Singh, Chris Mitchell and Andrew Fisken will join DLA Piper in the coming months. The firm said in a statement that it also has hired additional lawyers, including special counsel and senior associates, from Norton Rose Fulbright’s Melbourne, Sydney and Perth offices.