Aug 12, 2026 – 5.00amAshurst’s decision to jettison 60 staff and seven partners from its Canberra office, along with the bulk of government work amid margin pressure, has proved a boon for mid-tier rival Thomsons, which has moved to become one of the largest legal advisers to Commonwealth bureaucrats.Formerly known as Thomson Geer, the mid-tier firm secured just shy of $40 million in federal government contracts in 2025-26, putting it firmly in second place in The Australian Financial Review’s audit of AusTender contracts. The figure is well ahead of the $5.5 million Thomsons secured the year prior, and even well above the $33 million Ashurst secured.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles