Irwin holds significant experience in the Asian mining market, including cross border transactions. He was previously the Singapore head of the International Corporate Group (Asia) for Watson, Farley and Williams.

In that role Irwin successfully built one of the largest and most widely recognised resources practices throughout Asia.

Irwin’s practice is predominantly focused in the resources sector specialising in mining, oil and gas, as well as power and energy and includes large cross border transactions in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore.

Clayton Utz chief executive partner David Fagan said Irwin’s appointment complemented and strengthened the firm's national energy and resources practice, as well as raising the company’s profile in the Asian market, in line with international strategy.