In 1987, Stephen Jaques Stone James merged with Mallesons - and the firm adopted its present name of “Mallesons Stephen Jaques”. At the time of the merger, Stephen Jaques Stone James - one of the leading Sydney based firms - had 79 partners and 251 solicitors (a total of 330 lawyers) and Mallesons - one of the leading Melbourne based firms - had 37 partners and 83 solicitors (a total of 120 lawyers).

The 1987 merger was driven by an assessment that Sydney, Australia’s international business centre and largest city, and Melbourne, the traditional home to many of Australia’s major corporations and financial institutions, had become one legal market. This had happened as a result of advances in telecommunications and computer technologies. In addition, it was felt that the merger of the two firms - with their similar cultures and backgrounds, and with many shared clients - would give us the necessary depth of legal talent, and the level of technological and know-how support, to be able to assist our key clients internationally, as well as in Australia.

The merger enabled the firm to look after clients in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Canberra. (We established a Brisbane office in 1989). This was especially attractive to clients who wished to engage a single law firm on a national basis.