Consultants now make up almost 10 per cent of the fee-earners at MinterEllison, as clients prove increasingly willing to seek non-legal advice from law firms rather than going to the major consultancies.

The change in buyer behaviour has led to MinterEllison and its rivals continuously raiding the big four consulting firms for partners and staff. MinterEllison has the biggest consulting offering, followed by Ashurst. Rival top-tier law firms Clayton Utz and King & Wood Mallesons also operate consultancies of varying sizes.