Best Lawyers in Australia for Commercial Law

Alasdair McLean is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Law, Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. Alasdair, who practices law in Melbourne, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alasdair is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Glenn is a principal in the firm’s corporate practice. Glenn provides advice to public and private entities throughout Australia on a full range of corporate and business law issues. This includes capital raisings, listings, mergers by acquisition and schemes of arrangement, ASIC, ASX and legislative compliance, capital reductions and other securities issues and transactions. He acts for large and medium sized corporates, both listed and unlisted, providing advice on a full range of bus...

Loretta has primary responsibility for key client relationships with a particular focus on understanding their commercial objectives and ensuring the firm delivers practical, timely and effective outcomes. She has been a Partner of the firm since 1998 and was elected Chair of the Board of Partners in 2007. Loretta has worked closely with Chief Executive Partner Adrian Tembel in the development of the firm over a long period, including its growth from a South Australian firm into one of Austra...

Jamie Watts is the leader of Cowell Clarke’s Building, Construction and Infrastructure team, bringing nearly 30 years of experience to his market leading guidance and advice. With expertise ranging from the drafting of contracts to the settlement of disputes, Jamie’s understanding of the whole construction cycle allows him to identify and minimise risk from procurement to completion. Although the avoidance of future claims and disputes is Jamie’s primary goal, he has signifi...

James has experience in a broad range of commercial and intellectual property matters, including intellectual property commercialisation, agreements and licensing, trade mark registrability and infringement issues. James also has extensive experience in technology procurement, licensing and outsourcing matters. This work includes drafting and advising on IT contracts, including software licences, software, platform and infrastructure as a service agreements, software development agreements, I...

Gerry is the Co-Head of our M&A (Private) and Equity Capital Markets (Private) practices. He h as been advising on capital raising transactions, mergers and acquisitions and capital structuring for over 30 years in key financial markets including Sydney, Hong Kong and London. He is a trusted advisor to our clients. Gerry’s experience includes leading the Kain teams advising: sportsmed on the sale of their hospital to Burnside War Memorial Hospital; SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on it...

Since joining WRP Legal in 2018, Sam has led the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team with expertise honed as special counsel at a major national law firm. Renowned for his skill in insolvency litigation, consumer law, construction, property, and leasing disputes, Sam has represented international corporations, national and local businesses, SMEs, and high-net-worth individuals. A skilled advocate, negotiator, and strategist, he crafts tailored approaches that deliver favourable outcomes, e...

Antony is an experienced lawyer who has been practicing corporate-commercial law for over 25 years. Having studied both commerce and law, Antony is uniquely qualified to help clients deliver their strategic, operational and commercial objectives by helping them to identify, understand and manage the legal risks that arise on day-to-day basis and during corporate transactions. By taking the time to understand his clients’ business, Antony has established himself as a trusted advisor to a...

James is the leader of our Public M&A and Equity Capital Markets practice. He is a current member of the Australian Takeovers Panel and has extensive experience working in top-tier corporate law firms in Australia and London. James’ experience includes leading the Kain teams advising: SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on its proposed acquisition by Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (API) (a subsidiary of Wesfarmers (ASX:WES)) by way of scheme of arrangement for approximately $180m; Ke...

Julie accepts briefs in all areas of law, but has special expertise in complex and high-value disputes relating to commercial contracts, professional negligence, breach of trust, and breach of statutory and fiduciary duties. She has particular experience in disputes and regulatory matters relating to the Superannuation sector. Admitted to the Bar in 2015, Julie spent over 10 years as a commercial litigator at Clayton Utz, where she worked on a variety of large and smaller matters across a num...

Helena was admitted to the Bar in 2014 after practising as a solicitor at Herbert Smith Freehills and acting as a Tipstaff and Associate to Justice Slattery in the NSW Supreme Court. She practices mainly in complex commercial and general equity matters (with particular interest in contractual disputes, insurance and financial services). She also utilises her extensive commercial experience in complex commercial prosecutions. Helena is often able to draw on her legal education and experience i...

Mark specialises in major construction and engineering matters, including large infrastructure projects and mining disputes. He is also regularly briefed in large-scale, complex commercial and property matters. He regularly appears unled for a diverse range of clients comprising top-tier Australian and international construction contractors, sub-contractors, multi-national corporations, overseas mining operators, local councils, certifiers, developers and strata owners. Mark has increasingly ...

Stephen is the practice leader of the intellectual property and technology practice at WRP Legal and Advisory. Stephen advises on a broad range of intellectual property and technology matters, including intellectual property commercialisation, brand protection, technology transactions and other related matters, such as trade marks, copyright, confidential information, financial services, privacy, and competition and consumer law. Stephen’s practice includes working with ASX-listed compa...

William accepts briefs in all areas of infrastructure and construction law. Prior to being called to the bar, William was a Partner in the Construction Advisory and Disputes team at Pinsent Masons in Sydney. As a Partner, William regularly provided strategic advice on major infrastructure and construction projects and disputes, and has appeared in NSW courts, in expert determinations, arbitrations, mediations and before Dispute Advisory Boards. William has also worked as a solicitor and advoc...

Alice has a broad practice in commercial litigation, including in contract, corporations law, equity, insolvency, and consumer law, as well as a regulatory and administrative law practice. She acts regularly for both corporate and government clients. She appears both led and unled in the NSW Supreme Court and the Federal Court of Australia, as well as other courts and tribunals. Alice was admitted to practice in 2011 and called to the Bar in 2018. Prior to coming to the Bar, Alice was a Senio...

Justin Pen is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Law and Labour and Employment Law. Justin, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Justin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.