New partner moves from the construction team of another firm
Mills Oakley has launched a construction practice based in Melbourne with the hire of a partner from Lander & Rogers.
Michael Loterzo, who was most recently a partner in the construction team at Lander & Rogers, will “combine forces” with special counsel Paul Gill to launch the practice, the firm said.
The appointment comes after Mills Oakley’s hiring spree in November, which netted the national firm five senior lawyers from four firms, including a new partner who launched the firm’s digital law practice in Sydney.
Chief executive John Nerurker said that the launch would bolster the firm’s national capability. The search for the right partner to achieve the same success of the firm’s construction practices in other cities has been extensive, he said.
“For many years, our construction practice has been a market leader in Brisbane and Sydney, advising on a number of iconic, high-profile developments. The search for a suitable candidate who could achieve a similar level of success in Melbourne has taken some time, but there is no question that we have found that person in Michael,” Nerurker said.
Loterzo – whose clients include ADCO Constructions, Crema Constructions, and Hutchinson Builders – works on both front-end and back-end construction matters. He has worked on numerous high-profile building projects, including AAMI Park, the MCG, Eureka Tower and QV in Melbourne and No 1 Martin Place, Governor Phillip and Governor Macquarie Towers and 400 George St in Sydney.
Loterzo has also been well acquainted with Mills Oakley for a long time. Mills Oakley said that his time at Landers, he was an in-house lawyer at a leading Australian construction company and worked with the firm during that time.
“Having briefed Mills Oakley for nearly ten years, I was impressed by the firm’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality advice and value for money,” he said. “I am proud to lead a new chapter for the Mills Oakley national construction team in Melbourne.”
