MinterEllison has acquired an information technology consulting firm in Sydney as the Australian firm continues its path to provide multi-disciplinary advisory services to clients.

The firm has acquired ITNewcom, which advises corporate and government clients on technology strategies, IT outsourcing, cost benefit analysis and risk management. According to its website, ITNewcom's clients include BHP Billiton, The Australia and New Zealand Banking Group,. and federal and state government agencies across the country.

Andrew Cunningham, the firm's innovation and networks leader, said that ITNewcom aligned with the firm's strategic vision. Joining ITNewcom's complementary expertise with our existing technology practice will allow us to deliver seamless integrated consulting and legal solutions to clients seeking sophisticated technology outcomes, he said.

ITNewcom, which was founded in 1997, is led by chief executive Brendan Welsh, and firm leadership also include partners Debbie McLaughlin, Stephen Craike and Simon Lewis in Australia and Kim Gordon in New Zealand.

It will now become part of a newly launched technology consulting practice at MinterEllison that also comprises partners Anthony Lloyd in Sydney, Paul Kallenbach in Melbourne and Amanda Story in Canberra.

MinterEllison has made a series of efforts to expand into advisory practice beyond law, especially under the leadership of chief executive Tony Harrington, former PwC Australia chief, who joined the firm in 2014.

Last year, MinterEllison also branched into executive remuneration consulting by hiring a four-consultant team from London-based advisory firm Willis Towers Watson. In March, the firm's New Zealand affiliated firm MinterEllisonRuddWatts launched a joint venture with Auckland-based technology investment firm Goat Ventures to develop an artificial intelligence system for document review.