PwC is understood to be paying well above market rates, where required, to poach big name partners and become a serious rival to established law firms.
The big four accounting firm has ramped up its expansion plans over the past 18 months, and the legal hiring spree isn't over yet.
Already PwC has attracted at least three partners from Gilbert + Tobin since 2015 and the firm, known as PwC Legal, currently tallies 19 partners.
Street Talk understands at least one G+T partner went across to PwC on the promise of a salary of as much as $1.5 million a year, believed to be a pay jump of up to 50 per cent, for three years. Performance hurdles linked to the contract were said to be "light on" relative to those at large law firms.
The other G+T hires were also attracted to PwC with lucrative pay packages that were said to be lower.
Typically, the amount of work brought in factors into a partner's remuneration but sources said PwC was often paying up to shake senior lawyers out of the traditional model.
PwC has been the most aggressive out of the accountancy firms in taking on lawyers under the leadership of former-King & Wood Mallesons managing partner Tony O'Malley.
PwC poached Melbourne-based G+T partner Cameron Whittfield last year and has also hired G+T infrastructure partner Damian McNair and G+T partner Tony Holland.
G+T isn't the only firm to be targeted. PwC last year lured former Clifford Chance corporate law heavyweights Mark Pistilli and Danny Simmons, while other hires include Tiffany Barton of Ashurst, Ashley Poke of Baker & McKenzie and Sydney-based James Delesclefs of Corrs Chambers Westgarth.
The accounting firm also poached Clayton Utz partner Karen Evans-Cullen.
PwC is boldly chasing a target to have 25 partners and 100 lawyers by the fiscal year end.
