The nation’s largest legal partnership, HWL Ebsworth, has anointed key executives Russell Mailler and Kris Hopkins to lead the firm after the sudden death of managing partner Juan Martinez in March.

Mr Mailler, the firm’s chief strategy officer, and Mr Hopkins, the chief financial officer, will assume day-to-day control of the firm as chief executive partner and CEO after a vote by its 201 equity partners. No other candidates were put forward.