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Corporate Law - Australia
About this Practice Area
With extensive experience working in top-tier corporate law firms in Melbourne, London and most recently in Adelaide, James brings much sought-after skills specialising in public and private M&A, equity capital markets and advising on listed company compliance and corporate governance. James recently led the Kain Lawyers teams advising: SeaLink Travel Group Limited (ASX: SLK) on its $125 million acquisition of Transit Systems Marine, and the associated capital raising of $51 million, and ...
Gerry has over 20 years experience in advising on all aspects of corporate and securities law. He specialises in mergers and acquisitions and capital raising for both private and publicly listed companies. Gerry is regularly recognised by his peers, being awarded 'Best Lawyers', Lawyer of the Year in Adelaide for M&A law in 2014 and Commercial Law in 2013.
A feisty persona, excellent technical ability and sharp negotiating skills define Sarah to a tee. Her strength lies in advising on business and company acquisitions and divestments. Don’t let Sarah’s diminutive stature fool you. Although she responds to the nickname ‘Mini’ at Kain Lawyers, her passion for law and feistiness on behalf of clients belie the name. As a leader within our M+A practice, Sarah has spent the past 12 years honing her M+A skills, developing a par...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Jonathan is a Partner and the head of HopgoodGanim Lawyers' leading Resources and Energy practice in Brisbane and is also the leader of our Native Title practice. Jonathan applies his extensive projects, resources, native title and cultural heritage experience to mining, oil and gas transactions, renewable energy, infrastructure developments, joint venture arrangements, and asset and share sales and acquisitions across Australia and internationally. He is skilled in the art of negotiation, me...
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 an experienced corporate lawyer who has advised some of Australia’s biggest corporates and funds on their most complex and strategically critical transactions. Known for his pragmatic and commercial approach, Michael works closely with clients to understand their commercial goals and drivers in order to deliver the right outcomes.Michael’s broad experience covers mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity, restructures, funds management and financial se...
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 ...
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...
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 is an experienced and highly skilled commercial lawyer. He has for 30 years been developing close ongoing relationships with his clients and establishing efficient and effective business structures. He is a no nonsense thinker and provides pragmatic advice that has seen him develop key client relationships across a range of industries including manufacturing, construction, agri-business, technology and environmental. Tim’s commercial expertise is broad and ranges from advising on bu...
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...
A well known corporate lawyer, Brett is well respected for his ability to drive matters to conclusion with powerful results and is lauded for his strong leadership skills. Brett has expertise in capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, and board advice. He has managed numerous capital raisings, including many ASX listings during his 36-year career. He is practical and passionate about offering quality expertise to clients, whose relationships he genuinely values. Both corporate and private ...
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...
Darrell is a Partner and leads the firm’s Dispute Resolution practice. His expertise includes advising on property-related litigation including resumptions, contractual disputes, negligence claims, product liability litigation, class actions, insider trading and other claims brought by ASIC for statutory breaches and Royal Commissions. He offers a particular expertise in liquor licensing and gaming regulation and represents major participants in the leisure, sport and entertainment sect...
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...
John is the founder and Managing Director of Kain Lawyers.He has over 25 years’ experience in corporate advisory, private equity, capital markets (in listed and unlisted companies and trusts) and mergers and acquisitions. His experience in advising public and private companies and investment funds has seen him consistently ranked by peers and clients as one of South Australia’s leading corporate lawyers. John is a Fellow of the AICD and has served on a number of boards, including ...
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...
ohn is a highly regarded corporate/commercial lawyer with a broad range of experience gained over more than 40 years of practice. Before joining Aitken Partners, John was a partner (and then consultant) at two national corporate law firms, initially in Melbourne and subsequently in Sydney. He has been recognised in Best Lawyers in Australia for Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate Law and Corporate/Governance Practice since 2013. John has extensive corporate transactional experience includ...
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 is a Partner in our Private Enterprise practice and he works predominantly with HG Private clients advising on their corporate and commercial legal matters. He 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. Luke has a particular interest in family business succession, and has assisted a number of f...
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...
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...
About John 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 ...
Brian is an experienced corporate lawyer who has advised high profile clients on public and private M&A transactions, corporate restructures, major projects and general corporate law. Brian’s experience includes acting on public takeovers, scheme of arrangements, Takeover Panel proceedings, capital raisings, private M&A, major infrastructure projects and strategic commercial transactions. Prior to joining Kain Lawyers, Brian had six years of experience at a top tier law firm in ...
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...
Corporate Law Definition
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.
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.
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