MinterEllison
MinterEllison is an Australian law, consulting and project management firm founded in 1827. It is 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.
Highlights
The firm provides comprehensive legal advice to lenders, borrowers, and sponsors within the banking and finance industry, with expertise spanning acquisition finance, asset finance and leasing, corporate finance, and property finance. A notable transaction includes advising Cliffbrook Capital and its investors on various major funding and investment arrangements exceeding A$3 billion.
In capital markets, the team provided guidance to issuers and existing shareholders on listings and capital raising initiatives to fuel their growth and strategic objectives, while also representing underwriters and lead managers in underwriting and structuring offerings. Highlights include advising Immutep Limited on its $100 million equity raising and strategic partnership, as well as assisting Brandon Capital with the launch of its sixth fund, Brandon Capital Fund VI, which reached an initial close of US$180 million.
The firm has been particularly active in M&A field on a variety of complex and high-value corporate transactions, having involved in the second largest deal in the 2024 calendar year, advising Anglo-American on the sale of its steelmaking coal business to Peabody Energy for up to USD3.775 billion and the sale of its interest in Jellinbah Group for ~USD1.1 billion.
Within the project sector, the firm remains active on behalf of leading corporations, institutions, and government bodies. The project team welcomed partner David Perks in 2024.
Key clients
Key clients include Abacus Group, Australian Business Growth Fund, Blackstone Group,
Cliffbrook Capital, Dexus, Elders, Immutep, Metrics Credit Partners, NSW Government, Plenary Group,
QANTAS, Westpac Banking, and Victorian Government.
Testimonials
“Partner and team service was outstanding. Always available, strong strategic thinking and quick turn arounds on key matters.” (Restructuring client)
“Commercial advice, understanding of my business and customer.” (Bank lending client)
“Ability to advise on complex transactions in a collaborative and efficient manner.” (M&A client)
Nick Anson
“Highly innovative, creative, responsive and very sounds / strong legal acument.”
Darren Sumich
“Commercial advice easy to work with.”
Joseph Pace
“Has the ability to project manage complex transactions involving various Minters' teams and is extremely proficient in structuring and negotiating those transactions.”
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
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
A&O Shearman
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
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.”
Clayton Utz
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.
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.
Clifford Chance
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. Its core transactional focus is in banking and finance, M&A and project development while its restructuring and insolvency practice continues to gain traction.
Corrs Chambers Westgarth
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
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:
32nd 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:
32nd 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
Gadens
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
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.
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.
Hamilton Locke
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. 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.
Johnson Winter Slattery
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
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:
32nd edition (2022/2023)
Project development
“Quality and thoroughness of the work and responsiveness.”
