Australia

MinterEllison is an Australian-based law, consulting and project management firm founded in 1827. Itis the largest in Australia with 1200 legal staff including 270 partners across 15 offices in five countries. In Australia the firm has offices in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Darwin, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide.The firm also has a relationship with MinterEllisonRuddWatts based in New Zealand.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is full service but also offers consultancy services in technology, infrastructure and risk. It is best known in the Australian legal market for its market leading restructuring and insolvency practice, but it is also a solid choice of counsel for M&A, private equity, capital markets and banking and project finance matters.

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include ANZ, Carlyle Group, Goldman Sachs, Macquarie, BlackRock, Qantas, Qualitas, Quadrant Private Equity, Vanguard, Rolls Royce, Brisbane Airport Corporation, Avolon, Salter Brothers, and National Australia Bank.

Research period review: 32^nd edition (2022/2023)     

During the research period, the firm has been active in banking, capital markets, M&A, private equity, project finance, and restructuring work.

The firm’s banking practice was strong in advising acquisition and asset financing transactions for banks, borrowers, private equity sponsors, and non-bank lenders while the financial services regulatory team continues to advise local financial services institutions on all significant pieces of legislation.

The capital markets practice of the firm was very active advising on IPOs, block trades, and capital raisings mainly for issuers and shareholders.

The corporate team kept busy advising on acquisitions, private equity, spin-offs and demergers, divestments, joint ventures and strategic alliances from both buy and sell sides.

In the investment fund area, the firm kept busy advising on fund formation, fundraising, distribution, investor disclosure, and addressing regulatory requirements for clients in Australia, the Netherlands, the US, New Zealand, and Singapore.

The firm’s well-known restructuring team was preoccupied with insolvency proceedings, liquidations, corporate restructuring, and providing regulatory advice to insolvency administrators.

The firm strengthened its team by promoting four new partners including two new restructuring and insolvency partners Catherine Macrae and David Suttner along with M&A partners Sudharshan Senathirajah and Mellissa Lai. The banking and finance team also brought in partner Amela Mcpherson from Westpac Banking Corporation.

M&A partner Gary Goldman retired from the firm in 2021.

Deal highlights: 32^nd edition (2022/2023)   

Blackstone AU$2.7 billion syndicated financing

Qualitas ASX IPO

Amplifon AU$550 million acquisition of Bay Audiology

Gowri to Kagaru Inland Rail PPP (G2K Projects)

Speedcast International Chapter 11 bankruptcy

Client Feedback: 32nd edition (2021/2022)

Asset Finance

"Commercial, timely, professional and knowledgeable."

Banking & Finance

"Clear and strategic thinkers, clear and accessible communicators, strong industry and sector experience, deep technical knowledge and pragmatic results-orientated approach."

"Market leading advice to corporate trustees. Deep knowledge of the Australian market, pragmatic advice, ability to work pragmatically with all stakeholders/legal firms to ensure a smooth deal execution. "

"Provided detailed advice on all legal aspects of the trade and strongly supported the preparation and reviews of subsequent rounds of documentation."

"Flexibility, thoroughness, grasp of legal and commercial concepts."

"Speedy turnaround, access to professionals, advice on protecting our risks and commercial approach."

Capital Market

"Extremely knowledgeable, easy to deal with, commercially minded, problem-solving mindset."

"Very timely, cost-effective advice."

Financial services and regulatory

"Not afraid to think out of the box and to problem solve. Great understanding of the legal issues set within the commercial context. hardworking. Always warm to deal with. Always get successful outcomes. Significant commitment to pro bono and community work. Impressive."

"Proactive and comprehensive."

"The firm has a deep industry understanding across insurance and financial services. It has excellent experience dealing with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, to help us work out how best to engage the regulator. They supported us with very tight turnarounds and were very flexible."

"Very responsive, have a good working knowledge of matters and how the regulator approaches matters."

"Easy to work with. Partners are accessible, and they know our business. Cost-effective. Have the relevant expertise."

Insolvency

"Able to bring the whole of its firm to solve the issues facing the liquidators, including insolvency, tax, property and construction law. This was done in a seamless and timely manner."

"Extremely timely and commercially oriented advice. Excellent value for money."

"Responsiveness. Understanding our business. Commercial."

"Strong team depth from partner down."

"Very commercial, willing to deal direct with recipient and cut through largesse of repeated correspondence, technically adept."

"Extremely thorough and assured."

"Pragmatic and commercial. Concise. Relevant. Properly resourced."

"Proactive and timely advice. Efficient and effective advice. Able to quickly cut through to a strategic solution."

"Thoroughly commercial, clear and pragmatic communicators, deep sector experience and technical excellence, superior legal project management and coordination."

Investment funds

"Commercial and technically excellent advice.”

"Commercial and technically sound legal advice. Proactive. Willing to offer alternative fee arrangements."

M&A

"Great client service. Excellence in their legal advisory expertise."

"Great insights and experience, negotiation with other party, advice and counsel."

"Knowledgeable, commercial, credible and market-focused."

"Strong technical proficiency and experience."

"They were extremely useful in providing great advice as well as ensuring the other side did not hide clauses throughout the agreed documents. The work they did in the background allowed the owners of the business to continue running the business, whilst important updates and key decisions were quickly raised and addressed. They understood our non-negotiable terms and were clear in ensuring that these terms were agreed."

"Technically strong."

Project Finance

"Minters did well in adapting the brief that they received from government, which did not acknowledge the complexity of the transaction. This resulted in a better client outcome. They helped guide the commonwealth through the entire process giving appropriate comparisons with the private sector and state governments on various positions. Took leadership in managing the other law firms for the various parties involved in the transaction and appropriately managed the documentation process."

Restructuring

"Proactive. Considered. Professional."

"Excellent advice and written correspondence with the regulator."

Brendon Watkins

"He is a highly regarded 'legend' of the insolvency industry in Australia. He is a highly technical insolvency lawyer who uses his significant experience to foresee issues and put in place measures to deal with those issues before they manifest into greater problems. He is excellent to work with, and I am pleased to have him on my side of the table."

"Keen intellect. Problem solving."

Bart Oude-Vrielink

"Excellent skills, very knowledgeable, highly rated and regarded."

"Technical skills and responsiveness."

Caitlin Murray

"Clear and strategic thinker, superior team and legal project management, pragmatic and results-oriented, accessible."

"A leading female lawyer in a very male-dominated sector of the legal profession. Can stand toe to toe with any practitioner."

"Clear thinker and communicator, strong technical expertise, superior team and project management, accessible."

Darren Sumich

"Very knowledgeable on structured asset finance matters. Generally available and timely in response, if not. Value for money. Commercial in resolving matters. Enjoyable to work with."

David Suttner

"Technically strong, very commercial and economical."

"Pragmatic, commercial and a great communicator."

David O'Brien

"Understanding of complex issues and responsiveness."

Ian Lockhart

"His depth of knowledge, his consideration of our needs and capabilities, his commercial acumen, his integrity."

John Elias

"Strong communication, acumen and knowledge of our business and its requirements as well as the financial structures themselves."

"Extremely strong understanding of the local securitization market, documentation and corporate trustee sensitivities. Very strong at helping to navigate new or bespoke issues. Gets along with, and is respected by, other legal stakeholders."

Joseph Pace

"Always on call, highly motivated great legal mind."

Jeremy Blackshaw

"Great client engagement. Takes a highly commercial approach."

Nick Broome

"Commercially minded, problem solver, industry knowledge."

"Knowledgeable, experienced, commercial, calm, authoritative, credible and focused."

Nick Kipriotis

"He was always contactable and would be ensuring that the agreed deadlines were being met. He kept his team and the opposing team on track and ensured that the deal would not be delayed. He is extremely knowledgeable about the sector and gave us insights into all the 'tricks' the opposing party would try and add into the documents. He is relentless in ensuring that his client gets all of the key points."

Glen Ward

"Proactive, considered and knowledgeable."

Geoff Earl

"Commercial approach. Willing to listen to feedback. Gets things done."

Michael Lawson

"Very professional and always accommodates requests."

Michael Vickery

"He is very accessible, an excellent communicator, provides clear and commercially oriented advice and has a strong team. He is a well-respected specialist in the insolvency field."

"Efficiency. Strategic thinking. Value for money."

Peter Block

"Peter is very good at solving problems and getting things done. He has appropriately advised the commonwealth on the risks involved in getting into various situations as part of this transaction. He provided very practical advice to a very 'green' client doing its first transaction."

Richard Batten

"He is very practical and pragmatic, alongside deep expertise."

"Top of his game. Very innovative. Problem solver. Likes a challenge."

Shaun Clyne

"Very knowledgeable. Excellent communicator. High-quality work."

Tze Ting Liew

"Commercial and technically sound lawyer. Broad funds experience."

"Innovative solutions. Excellent legal advice. Sound commercial and operational knowledge to supplement legal advice. Good communicator."

A&O Shearman is London-based magic circle law firm with 44 offices across 31 countries staffed with over 3000 lawyers including 554 partners. In Australia the firm has 25 partners in its Sydney and Perth offices. 

Focusses / specialisms

The firm is one of the few international firms that has successfully integrated itself into the Australian legal market acting across Asia-Pacific from its Australian base. Finance is traditionally the firm’s strength, and attracts high-end banking work, and aviation-focused structured and asset, leveraged, and project finance work. It also has a strong securitsation and projects practice and is solid in M&A.  

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Palisade Investment Partners, John Laing Group, Goldman Sachs International, Fortescue Metals Group, Asahi and EG Group.

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

During the research period the finance team kept busy with conventional lending mandates, social infrastructure financing and project financing involving PPPs and renewable energy. 

In capital markets the firm was very active with RMBS and ABS securitisation transactions, IPOs and proposed IPOs, capital raisings, bond issues and programme updates, while the projects team handled PPPs and projects in oil and gas, mining, transport and renewable energy. 

The corporate practice kept busy with inbound and outbound, investments, mergers, joint ventures and acquisitions in the conventional and renewable energy, natural resources, industrials, telecommunications, mining, real estate and food and beverage industries.  

The firm bolstered its finance practice with the hire of David Lam from King & Wood Mallesons in Hong Kong to head its China Desk in Australia.  

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

-Arc Infrastructure A$225 million revolving credit facility 

-Asahi Group Holdings A$16 billion acquisition of Carlton & United Breweries 

-CNOOC Curtis Funding No.2 $950 million syndicated term facility

-EG Group A$1.7 billion acquisition of Woolworths Petrol Business

-Kalium Lakes Potash project 

-Life360 ASX IPO

-Origin Energy €600 million 1.00% bond issue

-Port of Portland A$79 million refinancing 

-Silver Arrow Australia 2019-1 A$600 million ABS 

Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Banking

“Very responsive.”

Capital markets: Debt

“We work with a very high quality partner and senior lawyer who both provide excellent advice.”

“Studious, global, responsive. They offer great service and are user friendly.”

Capital markets: Equity

“Tony and Cecile are excellent. They are very experienced, commercial, experts in their area and the best thing is that they are so good to deal with.”

“Good technical knowledge and client service.”

Capital markets: Structured finance and securitisation

“They have deep and specialised knowledge in securitisation and capital markets, and they bring to the table significant experience, industry knowledge and insights from their international partners and experiences.”

“Strong legal knowledge. Strong knowledge on industry and market practices. Innovative and creative solution capabilities (able to propose alternatives to overcome obstacles during documentation). They are meticulous in tracking outstanding points to ensure all issues are resolved.”

“A&O Shearman have deep expertise in securitisation law in Australia. The team provides exceptional service with deeply thought through work in a very timely manner.”

M&A

“Very technically strong, good client focus and easy to deal with and find simple solutions.”

Real estate

“Responsive, available, clear in their advice and commercially astute.” 

Ashurst

Ashurst is a London-based international law firm with 1,600 lawyers across 27 offices in Australia, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. Ashurst Australia was formed in 2011 following its merger with independent law firm Blake Dawson. The 182-partner-strong firm is headquartered in Sydney with additional offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Perth.

Focusses / specialisms 

Ashurst’s core focus is M&A and structured finance and securitisation, but it also excels in private equity, and restructuring and insolvency work.

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include Bank of America, Bank of China, BNP Paribas, DBS, Archer, Bain, Blackstone PE, Blackstone Tactical Opportunities, Brookfield, Allegro Funds, CapVest Partners, The Growth Fund, CDPQ, and KKR.

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Bank lending: lender side

“Very knowledgeable as to current market positions. Organised, calm and efficient. Reliable.”

M&A

“They are very diligent and understand what our business objectives are.”

Established in 1833, Clayton Utz is a Sydney-based independent law firm with 175 partners and 1,200 personnel across offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Brisbane, Perth and Darwin.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has a focus on debt, equity and structured finance and securitisation, capital markets, transport project development and restructuring and insolvency, achieving top-tier status for Australia in all these areas.

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include ATI Group, Dye & Durham Corporation, Blackstone, CBA, Goldman Sachs, NAB, Athena, Macquarie Bank, Bluestone, and BNK Banking.

Client feedback: 32^nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A

“Very high level of being professional, skilled, versatile. Fully understand the clients' needs. Provide excellent and innovative solutions. Pragmatic and practical. Extremely short response times – 24/7 availability. Language and documents provided were useful and understandable for non-legal people.”

Project development

“Efficient and high-quality work; I can always rely on them to produce top-quality work without excessive fees. Excellent technical knowledge of the law and commercial experience in/understanding of the mining industry.”

Clifford Chance is a London-based magic circle law firm with over 3300 lawyers and 34 offices across 23 countries. In Australia it has offices in Sydney and Perth that are among the newer additions to its Asia-Pacific network. 

Focusses / specialisms

From its Australian base the firm aims to maximise business opportunities for its Australian and global clients in the domestic, Asia-Pacific and international markets. Its core transactional focus is in banking and finance, M&A and project development while its restructuring and insolvency practice continues to gain traction.

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Five V Capital, Pepper Group, Partners Group, AMP Capital, ANZ Bank and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. 

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

During the research period the firm’s corporate practice kept busy with privatisations and acquisitions in the retail, financial services, renewable energy, automotive, medical and real estate sectors. 

The finance team handled acquisition financings and energy mandates while the projects team advised on inbound and outbound transport, offshore wind, energy, social infrastructure, coal and mining projects.

The restructuring and insolvency practice advised on corporate and debt restructuring mandates and insolvencies in the electronics, engineering and food and beverage industries. 

The firm’s restructuring and insolvency team was hit with the departure of partner Jenni Hill to the Supreme Court and its corporate team lost partner Richard Graham to Johnson Winter & Slattery.

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

-Dick Smith insolvency

-Endeavour Energy A$350 million acquisition refinancing 

-Formosa II  376W offshore wind farm

-Hastie Group insolvency

-Murra Warra wind farm project

-Nippon Paint Holdings A$4.2 billion acquisition financing 

-PVH Corp A$268 million acquisition of Gazal Corporation

-Western Australian Land Registry A$1.4 billion privatisation

Client feedback: 30th edition (2019/2020)

Banking

“Highly responsive, global platform with senior partner attention to detail.”

M&A

“Thorough, detailed work, explained all legal documents concisely. They have a pragmatic and commercial approach and engaged with the target and their advisers well.”

“Extremely commercial and quick in responding.”

Private equity

“Clear and concise articulation of the core issue. Pragmatic approach to finding solutions.”

Project finance

“Strong working relationship with the bank group. They are responsive and generally provide well thought out opinions.” 

With more than 175 years of history and a team of more than 1,000 professionals and staff, Corrs Chambers Westgarth offers comprehensive legal services including banking and finance, M&A, restructuring and insolvency practice areas. The firm now has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Port Moresby.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is recognised for its work in banking and finance, capital markets, M&A, private equity and restructuring, and specialises in project development in the energy, mining and transport sectors. It is active in both domestic and cross-border transactions with a comprehensive coverage. 

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include ANZ, National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Macquarie Bank, Bank of China, ICBC, State Governments, Altrac Consortium, BaptistCare, and CIMIC Group.

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

Banking and finance

“Corrs provide world-class service through their unparalleled knowledge and experience on the subject material and their deep understanding of our business, developed over years.”

Project finance

“Great understanding of local market and ability to negotiate great outcomes.”

DLA Piper is the Australian arm of the international firm of the same name. The firm has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.

DLA Piper is a UK and US-based international law firm with 4200 lawyers across 90 offices in over 40 countries in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Australasia, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm provides a full spectrum of legal services and is best known for its project development teamfocused on mining and transport.

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include Asian Development Bank, AVZ Minerals, Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Downer EDI, Engie Energie Services, Kalium Lakes, Leichhardt Industrials, Highview Power, EV Metals, Link Group, Life360, Manulife, and POSCO.

Research period review: 32^nd edition (2022/2023)  

The firm has been active in capital markets, M&A, private equity, project development, project finance, and restructuring work during the research cycle.

The firm was particularly active in the project development area with a focus on transport, mining, and energy. The client role ranges from sponsors, stakeholders, and EPC contractors to project developers and project companies.

In the capital markets, the firm advised on IPOs, share sales, capital raising, placements, and convertible bond notes transactions where its clients were mainly issuers and shareholders. 

In the M&A area, the firm was mostly active in acquisitions, share sales, joint ventures, and divestments mainly from the buy side where deals were in technology and telecommunications, energy and natural resources, healthcare, infrastructure, education, and real estate.

The firm added new partner James Nicholls from Allen & Overy to its corporate and M&A team and strengthened its project development team by hiring special counsel Michael Robbins from Dorsey & Whitney’s Hong Kong office.

Deal highlights: 32^nd edition (2022/2023) 

PEXA ASX IPO

Sandvik A$950 million acquisition of Deswik Group

Bentley Systems NZ$1.46 billion acquisition of Seequent Holdings

Strike Energy proposed development of AU$3 billion 1.4mtpa urea fertiliser production facility

EV Metals Saudi Arabia battery mineral processing plants

The North East Link PPP

Established in 1845, Gadens is an independent Australian law firm with offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide, and in Perth through its associate office Lavan Legal. In 2015, Gadens allied with Dentons and Singaporean firm Rodyk & Davidson to share branding and strategy. In 2016, the firm split when its Sydney and Perth offices at the time joined Dentons.

Focusses / specialisms 

Gadens was the first Australian law firm to establish a multi-disciplinary practice and focuses on corporate and commercial law, real estate transactions, debt recovery and banking. Its finance practice handles secured and unsecured facilities, bilateral loans, syndicated facilities, subordinated and mezzanine financing and cross-border financing, particularly in the real estate and construction sectors.  

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include ANZ Banking Group, Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (including Bankwest), ING Bank Australia, Macquarie Group, National Australia Bank and MaxCap Group.

Gilbert + Tobin is a leading law firm in Australia established in 1988 by Danny Gilbert and Tony Tobin with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has a strong practice in equity capital markets, leveraged finance, M&A and private equity, achieving top-tier status in all these areas. It is also recognised for its work in banking, project development and restructuring.

Key clients 

Key clients include Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Afterpay, UniSuper, MIRA, Telstra, KKR, Cleanaway, APN, SG Fleet Group, Intertek, Beach Energy, BCI Minerals, and Tilt Renewables.

Client feedback: 32^nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A

“Excellent lawyers but, importantly, they explain complex legal issues in a way that directors can easily understand. That is extremely important in enabling the board to make the best decisions.”

Private equity

“Responsive, commercial, lateral thinkers.”

Hamilton Locke is a growing law firm in Australia with offices in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. The firm is part of HPX Group, which is also the holding company of in-house style essential professional services firm, Source.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm’s specialist areas of expertise include corporate M&A and private equity, capital markets, investment funds, financial services, restructuring and insolvency across sectors that include agriculture, mining, energy, healthcare, real estate, technology and education.

Key clients 

Key clients include CIMIC, Theiss, Lendlease, Longreach Credit Investors, ACTA Capital, Anacacia Capital, Climate Friendly, Quadrant, and Origin.

Client feedback: 32nd edition (2022/2023) 

M&A

“HL demonstrated an unswerving, single-minded commitment to ensuring our interests were protected and our objectives achieved. They were strategic in planning the approach and predicting the likely pressure points and how to prepare for and navigate them; they were tactically astute in execution and negotiation, and they were tenacious in fighting our corner. While the sale was long and complex, and had to accommodate the late introduction by the ultimate buyer of a complicated earn-out component, HL’s fees were proportional to the significant extra workload they took on. Reflecting the unanticipated increase in effort and duration caused by the buyer, HL’s fees grew to be well above the original estimate, but HL demonstrated pleasing and appreciated flexibility in adjusting down the final figure. Since the major transaction was completed, HL have continued to provide prompt strategic and tactical advice on M&A opportunities.”

Private equity

“They are extremely responsive and knowledgeable. I feel very confident having them act as our local Australian counsel on M&A and private equity transactions.”

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is an international firm headquartered in both London and Sydney following the 2012 merger between silver circle UK firm Herbert Smith and big six Australian firm Freehills. The firm has 2100 lawyers across 26 offices worldwide and in Australia has offices in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The firm also has separate offices in Sydney and Melbourne for its Alternative Legal Services (ALT) service staffed with lawyers, legal analysts and eDiscovery specialists to address high-volume, document-intensive legal work with the aid of technology. 

Focusses / specialisms

HSF is a full service firm that is strong across the transactional board with a finance practice that has a core focus on asset finance, acquisition finance, property finance and corporate finance. It is also dominant in the project financing of PPPs (public-private partnerships), social and economic infrastructure projects, and energy and resources markets, especially in renewable energy alongside its solid debt capital markets and restructuring and insolvency practices. 

Key clients

Key clients of the firm include Virgin Australia Holdings, NEXTDC, BNP Paribas, Korea Development Bank, Arrotex Group, Lendlease Corporation, NSW Treasury and The Carlyle Group. 

Research period review: 30th edition (2019/2020)

During the research period the firm’s finance practice was preoccupied with leveraged and acquisition finance transactions, asset and real estate finance; while the projects team acted in transport, wind and solar mandates. 

The debt capital markets team handled corporate and covered bond issuances while the restructuring and insolvency practice advised on recapitalisation deals, corporate and debt restructuring mandates, and insolvencies in the oil and gas and mining industries. 

The firm was hit with the retirement of finance partner Amanda Wales and the departure of restructuring and insolvency expert Peter Smith to Johnson Winter & Slattery’s Brisbane office.

Deal highlights: 30th edition (2019/2020)

-Arrotex Group A$510 million unitranche facilities

-Coles Group AMTN programme 

-Eclipx Group A$340 million refinancing 

-Hornsdale 309MW wind farm

-ING Bank Australia covered bond programme

-Northern Oil & Gas Australia insolvency

-Speedcast Group restructuring 

-Sydney Light Rail PPP 

Johnson Winter Slattery is an Australian corporate law firm with more than 75 partners and six offices across Australia in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm is strong in the fields of financial services regulatory, banking, M&A, private equity, project development and restructuring. It provides legal services across sectors including real estate, energy, infrastructure, consumer goods, transportation, education, media and technology.

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include Utilities Trust of Australia, Lighthouse Infrastructure, ASIC, Macquarie Asset Management, PIMCO, Bell Asset Management, Australian Utilities Trust, and Mason Stevens.

King & Wood Mallesons is the Australian presence of the international firm of the same name which has offices in Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

King & Wood Mallesons is a Hong Kong-based international firm that was formed as a merger between PRC firm King & Wood, Australian firm Mallesons Stephen Jaques, and UK firm SJ Berwin. It has more than 2,000 lawyers and 23 offices worldwide.

Focusses / specialisms 

The firm has a strong practice across many ranked areas achieving top-tier status in banking, debt, equity and structured finance and securitisation capital markets, leveraged finance, M&A, private equity, energy project development and project finance.

Key clients 

Key clients of the firm include Macquarie Bank, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, Block, National Australia Bank, PEXA, Endeavour Group, Latitude, Transurban Group, Australian Unity, and Bank of Queensland.

Client feedback: 32^nd edition (2022/2023) 

Project development

“Quality and thoroughness of the work and responsiveness.”