Find Lawyers in Australia for Corporate Law
Practice Area Overview
In Australia, the practice area denoted by the expression "Corporate Law" is very broad. It is typically understood to encompass the following specific practice areas:
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Equity Capital Markets
- Private Equity
- Corporate Governance
These areas often intersect, however. For example, a client may need to raise capital as a prelude to an acquisition, with the capital raising and the acquisition raising various corporate governance issues.
Similarly, a private equity fund may acquire a controlling shareholding in a listed company and seek representation on the Board of Directors, which in turn raises corporate governance issues. Alternatively, a private equity fund may wish to exit its investment in an entity by undertaking a dual track IPO and trade sale process.
It is common for Australian corporate lawyers to have expertise and experience across most of these areas, although specialisation in one or two areas is also becoming more common given the increasing complexity and sophistication of transactions.
Mergers and Acquisitions
Australian lawyers practising in this area represent entities that wish to merge with or acquire the shares or assets of another entity in the same industry sector (to increase the acquirer's industry scale), a complementary industry sector (to achieve, for example, vertical integration with the acquirer's other operations), or an entirely new industry sector (to achieve earnings diversity). Lawyers practising in this area also may represent entities that are the subject of a merger proposal or a sale/acquisition proposal. In other words, Australian M&A lawyers typically act on either the buy-side or the sell-side of these transactions.
Equity Capital Markets
Australian lawyers practising in this area represent entities that issue securities to raise capital, security holders seeking to sell their securities, or banks and investment banks that underwrite and sell such securities.
Private Equity
Private equity lawyers are involved in establishing private equity funds (usually in the form of corporations, limited partnerships, and trusts) and structuring private equity transactions. Private equity funds include:
- leveraged buy-out funds;
- venture capital funds;
- hedge funds;
- real estate investment funds; and
- infrastructure investment funds.
Private equity lawyers work closely with specialist lawyers in areas such as M&A, Equity Capital Markets, Banking and Finance, and Tax to ensure all relevant legal aspects of private equity transactions are covered. This often involves coordinating foreign law advice.
Corporate Governance
Corporate governance is the system by which companies are directed and managed, including the division of decision-making responsibility between a company's shareholders, its Board of Directors, and executive management. Corporate governance seeks to promote transparency and accountability in the management of companies, in turn contributing to investor protection and confidence in publicly listed companies.
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: Kelsian Group (ASX:KLS) on its $698m (including up to $63m contingent consideration) acquisition of Transit Systems Group, together with a $154m capital raise by accelerated non-renounceable entitlemen...
Gerry has 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: Adore Beauty’s (ASX: ABY) management team on its IPO Grasshopper Environmental on its sale to Cleanaway Waste Management (ASX: CWY) Ansarada (ASX: AND) on its acquisition of TriLine GRC Silk Lase...
Sarah is an experienced Transactions lawyer who is valued by clients for her attention to detail, commercial acumen and dedication to achieving the best commercial outcome for them. Sarah’s transactional experience includes; Advising Best Doors and Reliance Doors on their business sale to Swiss listed company Dormakaba; Leading the due diligence team in relation to Kelsian Group’s (ASX:KLS) $698m (including up to $63m contingent consideration) acquisition of Transit Systems Group,...
Brett Cowell is a founding partner and the Chairman of Cowell Clarke and is a Director of the firm’s Corporate and Commercial team. Brett’s passion for science, technology, and innovation has enabled him to support corporate and business clients in growing and protecting their tangible and intellectual property assets. Brett has very broad-based experience, with a particular interest in advanced manufacturing, defence, ICT, life sciences and technology businesses on a national and...
Peter is a principal in our transactions team and is a specialist in real estate, infrastructure and construction. He has extensive experience handling a range of matters including corporate acquisitions and disposals of land, real estate developments (including front end planning and construction matters), real estate financing and leasing. Peter has acted for leading Australian and international funds, investors and developers. He has acted for global defence, logistics and energy companies...
Khilen practices in corporate law, specialising in public and private mergers and acquisitions, equity capital raisings and corporate governance matters. He regularly advises clients on Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rules requirements, joint venture arrangements and shareholder disputes, initial public offers, corporate restructuring and refinancing and head office and governance issues. Khilen plays a pivotal role in complex corporate and commercial transactions. He provides advice on tra...
James is a corporate practitioner with significant experience in corporate transactions, corporate governance, directors’ duties and compliance with the Corporations Act, ASIC requirements and ASX Listing Rules. His practice has a strong focus on mergers and acquisitions, takeovers (both for bidders and targets), IPOs, other capital raisings and corporate structuring and reconstructions. James also focuses on financial services, including financial services licensing, registered and unr...
Tim is a corporate and commercial lawyer with particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions and equity raising, and with technical knowledge and experience in tax and accounting. He acts for numerous public companies and regularly advises on initial public offerings, rights issues and formal takeovers. In addition to transactional work, Tim has a keen interest and understanding of the regulatory environment and advises extensively on all aspects of the Corporations Act and ASX Listing Rule...
Eugene has over 28 years’ experience practising corporate and commercial law. Eugene’s range of industry experience includes energy (particularly renewable energy) and resources projects, mining services, agribusiness, manufacturing, private equity, financial services, technology commercialisation, property development, and franchising. Eugene’s areas of expertise are: Corporate finance – equity capital markets, public market floats, securities and financial services l...
Michael is the leader of our M&A (Private) and Equity Capital Markets (Private) practices. He is an experienced corporate lawyer who has advised some of Australia’s biggest corporates and funds on their most complex and strategically critical transactions. Michael’s practice includes advising on corporate mergers and acquisitions, capital raises, alternative asset fund establishment and deployment as well as foreign investment and financial services advice. Michael has a parti...
Scott Gibson practises in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, corporate, reconstructions and commercial law. He has a wide range of experience in all forms of mergers and acquisitions (both public and private) as well as initial public offerings, secondary raisings and general corporate and ASX Listing Rule matters. Scott also has significant private equity and joint venture experience. Scott advises on all forms of change of control transactions, general corporate ...
Mark is a specialist banking and finance lawyer with over 30 years’ experience. He advises and acts primarily in matters involving corporate lending, loan syndication, Corporations Act compliance and commercial contracts. Mark also advises on privacy issues relating to the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Sector) Act 2000. Mark has extensive experience in public listed company transactions and has provided advice on a wide range of matters to a number of high profile companies and government ...
John is a senior corporate and commercial lawyer who has specialised in technology and intellectual property law for over 25 years. He is a partner in the Corporate and Commercial team at Hall & Wilcox. John advises clients on commercial transactions and legal disputes in the fields of IT, telecommunications and media. His expertise covers all the legal issues associated with the use of technology in business and government, including licensing, privacy and data protection, copyright, bra...
Mark is a specialist banking and finance lawyer with over 30 years’ experience. He advises and acts primarily in matters involving corporate lending, loan syndication, Corporations Act compliance and commercial contracts. Mark also advises on privacy issues relating to the Privacy Amendment (Privacy Sector) Act 2000. Mark has extensive experience in public listed company transactions and has provided advice on a wide range of matters to a number of high profile companies and government ...
Paul specialises in contract, property, infrastructure, maritime and commercial transaction law with particular emphasis on ports and harbours, maritime and sea trade ventures, shipping, port and waterfront asset sales and acquisitions, transport industry due diligence, port operational risk management, major port development and infrastructure projects, complex terminal management, operating and leasing transactions, contract drafting, negotiations and statutory interpretation. Paul also has...
Tim leads our Capital Structuring practice. As a highly skilled commercial lawyer Tim advises clients on efficient and effective business structures that facilitate access to the capital necessary for growth or acquisition. Capital Structuring extends to business restructuring whether solvent or insolvent and to enable generational business succession or exit. Tim provides pragmatic advice that has seen him develop key client relationships across a range of industries including manufacturing,...
Michael is a Partner in HopgoodGanim Lawyers' Corporate practice with expertise in mergers and acquisitions, capital raisings, due diligence, takeovers, joint ventures, corporate restructuring and private equity transactions. Michael is also the co-lead of our Asia Business Unit and in this role he predominantly works with Asia-based clients investing in Australian corporations. Michael has a specific interest in working with clients to achieve great deal outcomes in the resources, technology...
John has more than 25 years’ experience as a corporate and commercial lawyer. Having worked on deals in Australasia, Europe and the United States, John has extensive corporate and funds transactional experience. Primarily, his work has focused on property fund mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and secondary capital raisings, fund restructurings, and the launch of wholesale and retail syndicates and joint ventures. He has substantial experience in structuring, managing a...
Daniel leads the firm’s transactions practice. He acts on public and private mergers & acquisitions, corporate advisory, strategic and commercial matters for a broad range of business clients, ranging from SMEs to some of the largest businesses in South Australia. Daniel works across a variety of industry sectors, including financial services, property, construction, energy and resources and manufacturing. Daniel regularly leads projects involving: share, asset, business and propert...
Bianca specialises in mergers and acquisitions, foreign investment and corporate governance. In addition, her practice involves providing general corporate and commercial advice to clients throughout the lifecycle of their businesses. She has positioned herself as a trusted advisor to a variety of Australian and international clients ranging from private family businesses and not for profits to large corporates and fund managers. Her clients appreciate her pragmatic strategic approach and abi...
Consistently ranked by clients and peers as a leading corporate lawyer, Kain Lawyers’ founder and Managing Director has over 25 years’ experience in M&A and equity capital markets law. John’s experience ranges across private equity, capital markets and mergers and acquisitions. His experience in advising public and private companies and investment funds has seen him consistently ranked by the AFR’s ‘Best Lawyers in Australia’ and Doyles Guide as a leadi...
Harry is a senior corporate and commercial lawyer specialising in strategic advice and negotiated transactions. He has extensive legal industry experience working in private practice and organisations in the transport and financial services industries as well as working as an investment banking professional. He is a trusted advisor to private and ASX listed corporations, their directors and management throughout Australasia. Harry is highly regarded for his general commercial expertise as wel...
Expertise James is an experienced transactional corporate partner who specialises in: M&A such as off-market takeover bids, schemes, capital reductions and buy-backs and in preparing and negotiating offer, disclosure and shareholder meeting documentation and joint venture, pre-bid and implementation agreements funds management including advising on the structuring, establishment, offering and restructuring of unit trusts and other investment vehicles equity capital markets for example adv...
Tony has been the Hall & Wilcox Managing Partner since 2007. He is well recognised in the legal sector and has led the firm through a period of substantial growth and success. Tony won Managing Partner of the Year at the Australian Law Awards in 2017 and 2015 (and was a finalist in 2014 and 2016). He was also a finalist for Law Firm Leader at the Australasian Law Awards in 2017. Tony won the Law Institute of Victoria Managing Partner of the Year Award in 2009. Tony, as Managing Partner of...
Wally is recognised as one of Australia’s leading practitioners with many years’ experience in advising major corporate and Government clients. He joined Piper Alderman from a large Australian law firm where he had previously held a number of senior positions including the national positions of Departmental Managing Partner, Corporate and Chairman, Energy and Resources Group. Throughout his career, Wally has acted on matters involving complex multinational mergers and acquisitions...
Melanie currently works in the Corporate and Commercial team at Thomson Geer, with a particular focus on Mergers and Acquisitions and Corporate Finance. Melanie has practices in international law firms in Australia and Hong Kong, specialising in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate finance, financial regulation and company commercial law.
A Partner with HopgoodGanim for more than 25 years, Brian leads our Corporate practice. Brian specialises in capital markets, mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructuring, and has acted on numerous transactions and capital raisings in both the industrial and resources and energy sectors. Brian is Non-Executive Chairman of Aus Tin Mining Ltd (ASX:ANW), Lithium Consolidated Mineral Exploration (ASX:LI3) and Platina Resources Limited (ASX:PGM), and Non-Executive Director of DGR Global Lt...
Luke Mountford leads HopgoodGanim Lawyers as Managing Partner and also leads our Private Enterprise practice, working predominantly with HG Private clients advising on their corporate and commercial legal matters. Luke has a significant experience base advising on business succession, structuring, and mergers and acquisitions. His clients include private and family owned businesses, agribusiness clients, indigenous businesses and high wealth individuals. He has a particular interest in family...
Matthew has over 25 years of China and Asia-Pacific legal and business experience, focusing on Intellectual Property (prosecution, litigation and transactions), Corporate (M&A) and International Trade. Matthew has been listed as a leading corporate/IP lawyer by various publishers and directories, and is an arbitrator (MCIArb) with the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, the Beijing Arbitration Commission, Asian International Arbitration Centre, CIETAC, the Maldives International A...
Mr. Nikou has acted for major Australian and international companies and works closely with his clients, taking the time to understand their businesses and provide them with sound guidance and advice. Mr. Nikou has acted in numerous merger and acquisition matters from detailed due diligence enquiries, joint ventures and contract negotiations. He also provides commercial advice on franchising and intellectual property issues and has been involved in expanding a number of Australia’s best...
Ed’s practice covers private mergers & acquisitions (both local and international), with particular specialism in mid-market deals in Australia, distressed M&A and inbound international transactions. Ed has significant experience running large projects including company establishment, corporate restructures and succession for large family groups. Ed has advised on over 200 M&A transactions including acting for buyers and sellers across a range of sectors in share sales, busi...
Darren is a corporate partner with 20 years’ experience (including 5 years in London) in all aspects of a range of corporate transactions, including: mergers and acquisitions – private acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures and shareholders agreements, partnerships, off-market takeovers, schemes of arrangements, capital reductions and share buy-backs equity capital markets – IPOs, placements and rights issues private equity and venture capital funds management financing ...
Nicole is a Partner in our Corporate practice with a focus on corporate structuring, due diligence and corporate governance, capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions and takeover defences. Nicole acts for public and private companies and private equity investors across a range of industries including resources, property, agribusiness, retail and the services sector. She also acts for some of Queensland’s most prominent sporting enterprises. Nicole is recommended by Doyle’s Guide...
Andrew is an experienced corporate and commercial lawyer with more than 25 years’ experience. He regularly works with domestic and international clients on mergers & acquisitions, capital raisings, competition law and Australian regulatory compliance matters. Andrew advises both private companies and publicly listed companies and has particularly strong experience in acting for those in the financial services, healthcare, aged care and agribusiness sectors. Prior to joining Piper Al...
Loretta Reynolds has been a Partner of the firm since 1998 and was elected Chair in 2007. While her main focus is on her funds management/mergers & acquisitions practice, she also has executive responsibility for client development and relationships in all markets. Loretta is individually recognised in Chambers Asia Pacific (2013, 2014 – 2016) in the Private Equity category for her “ extensive experience in fund formation, handling of buyouts, and work for superannuation funds...
Matthew Reynolds is a Partner in Thomson Geer’s Corporate & M&A team. Matthew’s key areas of focus are mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity capital markets, private equity and corporate advisory. He has particular expertise advising clients in the energy and resources, technology, health, agriculture, construction, infrastructure, retail and manufacturing sectors. Recent Experience Includes: Advising eCargo Holdings Limited (ASX:ECG) ( ECG ) on its acquisition of 85% ...
Ian is a corporate, commercial, media and regulatory lawyer who has a proven ability to effectively engage with a range of clients and stakeholders in both the public and private sectors. He is regarded by his clients as a trusted adviser and works collaboratively with both Australian and overseas clients across a number of industries, particularly in the the media, entertainment and technology space. His expertise include advising on public policy, public sector governance and regulator issu...
Tony has more than 25 years' significant experience in commercial transactions, including public and private infrastructure. Tony acts for clients in a range of sectors, including government services, property development, construction and defence. Tony has a particular interest and depth of experience in major projects, joint ventures, and infrastructure and development projects. He has advised clients on many of the major residential and commercial developments in South Australia. Tony is a...
Hugh has extensive experience in corporate and commercial law with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructuring, capital raisings, managed investment schemes and financial services. His practice includes working on takeovers, schemes of arrangement, venture capital and private equity deals, infrastructure investments, privatisations, prospectuses, underwritings and managed funds, and advising clients with a mutual structure.
John is a practical and outcome focussed transactional lawyer known for his approachability, can-do attitude and commercial nous combined with a profound understanding of the law. With more than 30 years’ experience, his work spans capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions (regulated and unregulated), companies and securities regulation, major commercial transactions, joint ventures and resources projects. John is independently ranked on a consistent basis as one of the top corporate a...
Simon is a respected corporate and commercial lawyer with extensive expertise on a broad range of transactional and advisory matters. He acts for Australian and international corporations, fund managers, high net worth family offices and private clients. He has been involved in many corporate projects including asset and share sales and acquisitions, equity capital raisings and diligence investigations. He has drafted and negotiated a broad range of commercial documentation including Governme...
Brian is an experienced Corporate and Transactions lawyer who has advised high profile clients on public and private M&A transactions, corporate restructures, debt financing, major projects and complex and strategically critical transactions. Brian specialises in private and public M&A, capital raisings, debt financing, major infrastructure projects, social and affordable housing and strategic commercial transactions. Brian’s experience includes advising: Kelsian Group (ASX:KLS)...
Annabel West is a Special Counsel in the corporate team in Adelaide. She specialises in corporations and securities law, with a principal focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, capital raisings and corporate advisory work. Annabel has extensive experience in managing corporate transactions for a wide range of local and international clients in diverse industries, from listed companies, private equity funds and government owned corporations, to SMEs and not for profits. Her experie...
Mark is a corporate, securities and funds partner with over 25 years’ Australian, United States, and international experience working in Sydney and New York. Mark has a particular focus on Australian and cross border securities transactions, mergers and acquisitions, fund and managed investment structuring and joint ventures involving companies located in Australia and international jurisdictions. Mark also represents New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ listed companies in their operatio...
Nicholas is a commercially astute transactions lawyer with specialist skills in private mergers and acquisitions and funds management. He prides himself on his commerciality and transparency to achieve strategic outcomes for clients with minimal disruptions to their businesses. Nicholas has worked on many transactions and regularly advises fund managers across numerous industries. Nicholas’ recent experience includes: Acting for Flavorite on its acquisition of the businesses of Murphy F...
With a background in corporate finance, Stefan brings a pragmatic and commercial approach to transactions, working with clients to understand their strategic goals to deliver optimal outcomes. Stefan specialises in the areas of public and private mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets and corporate advisory, with experience acting for large public and private clients across a broad range of industries, including online retail, construction, tourism and information technology, in Aus...
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