The Legal 500

Allens Arthur Robinson notched up another strong year, appearing on some of the largest transactions in the market. Among the highlights, the firm advised Rio Tinto on its response to BHP Billiton’s US$192bn takeover approach, and acted for St George Bank on its merger proposal with Westpac. The group has an impressive client list that includes corporate giants such as Wesfarmers, News Corporation and Cemex. The 'tier one’ team, led by Ewen Crouch and John Webster and which includes the 'highly rated’ Guy Alexander, is considered by most top firms to be 'part of the main competition’ and 'a cut above the rest’. Both Webster and Alexander join the leading individuals list following strong positive feedback.

Even the competition admits that Blake Dawson has had a 'remarkable year’; acting on 77 of the announced M&A deals this year, including landmark transactions such as the world’s second-largest takeover bid to date (BHP Billiton on its offer for Rio Tinto) and Australia’s largest M&A utilities deal (Alinta on its A$8bn buyout by Singapore Power/Babcock & Brown). Clients remain 'impressed by the quality of serviced provide at all levels’, and believe the firm’s rates are 'very reasonable in light of the quality of service’. Marie McDonald and David Williamson are consistently identified as 'the firm’s standouts’, and Bill Koeck is also highly recommended.

Notable highlights for Clayton Utz in 2007 saw the firm advise Macquarie Media on the largest media transaction of the year, the acquisition of Southern Cross Broadcasting, and act for Brookfield Asset Management on its takeover of Multiplex, the largest property transaction of the year. The group’s 'greatest asset’, Rod Halstead, is meanwhile leading the team advising Origin Energy on the approach made by BG Group. Michael Parshall, who acts for the likes of Illyra and Citigroup, provides 'through, client-focused advice’.

Freehills handles a significant volume of work - 141 deals in 2007 - and acts on the highest-profile, complex matters. Highlights included advising Coles on Wesfarmers’ A$20bn takeover, Australia’s largest scheme of arrangement to date, acting for Rinker on Cemex’s A$17.5bn hostile takeover, and guiding Singapore Power/Babcock & Brown through its A$7.9bn acquisition of Alinta. A client base that includes the likes of Babcock & Brown and Coles, and partners such as Rebecca Maslen-Stannage and Philippa Stone, demonstrate why Freehills is top tier. The 'service quality is excellent’, and offered at 'reasonable rates’, while Mark Crean is considered to be 'level-headed’ and 'service-oriented’.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques remains solidly entrenched in the first tier with an unparalleled client list that ranges from local giants such as Telstra to global players like Chevron. The team meanwhile includes top players such as Peter Cook and David Friedlander, who 'rightly ranks as a leading individual for both corporate and equity capital markets’. The group is currently acting for BG Group on its A$13.8bn bid for Origin Energy, and continues to be active in the private equity sphere, most recently advising Gresham Private Equity on its largest portfolio investment to date through its acquisition of Barminco. Firms see Mallesons Stephen Jaques as 'serious competition’.

In 2007 Baker & McKenzie achieved a major coup when it won the mandate to advise the NSW Treasury on the privatisation of the State’s electricity sector, which will involve the largest tranche of energy M&A transactions since the Victorian privatisations in the mid-1990s. The group, led by Steven Glanz, has a strong reputation for cross-border work, and recently advised Sims Group on its A$1.85bn merger with Metal Management.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth had a record year, acting on a number of Australia’s top deals. It advised Equigold on its A$9bn proposed merger with Lihir Gold, Southern Cross Broadcasting on its A$1.35bn merger with Macquarie Media Group, and AED Oil on its proposed joint venture with Sinopec International Petroleum Exploration and Production. The group expanded significantly too, bringing in top-flight partners Peter Ickeringill from the Daily Mail and General Trust, Byron Koster from Blake Dawson, and Andrew Messenger and Braddon Jolley from Freehills. Jolley has for some time been established as 'one the best in M&A’.

Deacons is taking full advantage of inward investment from China, picking up instructions from Sinosteel on its A$1.3bn hostile takeover bid for Midwest, the first hostile bid for a Chinese entity in Australia, and advising on the A$2bn joint venture agreement between Gindalbie Metals and Ansteel. Other highlights saw Robert Sultan advise Hewlett-Packard on its acquisition of Tower Software, and Shaun Clyne act for Anzon Australia on its proposed merger with Nexus Energy. Clients rate Shaun McRobert and James Stewart as 'impressive’.

In a listing of leading corporate teams in Sydney, Gilbert + Tobin would be unquestionably top tier. Despite having only one office, the firm sits just outside the top tier in this nationwide list. The group, which offers 'excellent, timely and reasonably priced advice’, acts for the likes of AGL Energy and Carlyle, and recently advised Publishing and Broadcasting on its demerger to split the A$13.7bn company into two separately listed operations. Gary Bessen and Gary Lawler have fantastic reputations.

What clients appreciate about Minter Ellison is the 'quality of service across the board’ that allows them to 'get good advice regardless of the issue or partner involved’. The group advised Morgan Stanley Real Estate on its A$6.6bn bid for Investa Property, the largest P2P in Australia and the first major P2P of an Australian listed REIT, as well as advising Midwest on Sinosteel Ocean Capital’s hostile off-market takeover bid. 'Good negotiator’ Costas Condoleon is 'strong on the tactics of public market M&A’, and is 'creative, extremely commercial and easy to work with’.

Considered 'very client-centric’, Arnold Bloch Leibler has the ability to 'understand clients’ businesses very well’. The highly recommended Henry Lanzer and Steven Klein recently advised Premier Investments on the sale of its 5.9% stake in Coles, and its A$900m bid for the Just Group.

Atanaskovic Hartnell focuses on complex corporate transactions and the disputes that arise out of them. Partners usually cover both contentious and non-contentious work for longstanding clients such as Brown-Foreman and Halliburton, as well as for new clients such as Fortescue Metals and Symbion Health, which John Atanaskovic and Larissa Pickford are advising on the A$2.8bn bid from Healthscope and the relevant litigation initiated by Primary Healthcare.

Chang, Pistilli & Simmons is considered to be 'the top boutique in M&A’, winning instructions on some of Australia’s most prominent transactions. For example, it acted alongside Freehills in advising Babcock & Brown on its joint acquisition of Alinta, and advised the Roberts Family Nominees as a 26% securityholder in Multiplex on the approach by Brookfield Asset Management. Danny Simmons and Mark Pistilli are recommended.

David Morriss initiated an aggressive growth strategy at DLA Phillips Fox, recruiting Catherine Merity, Geoff Taperell and Alison Choy Flannigan from Baker & McKenzie, Middletons and Ebsworth & Ebsworth (now merged into HWL Ebsworth) respectively. The group regularly capitalises on the firm’s expansive network, recently working with various offices to advise longstanding client Cartridge World, which held 1,600 units in 42 countries, on its sale to a private equity house.

Scott Murray’s team at Henry Davis York advised Indra Sistemas on its first Australian acquisition, and acted for Principal Aged Care on its acquisition of Moran Health Care, which involved 39 facilities across four states. Clients praise the team’s 'excellent quality and great availability’, and rate Scott Murray and Ben Farmer as the 'perfect team of professionals’. The group recently benefited from the recruitment of Ian Enright.

Johnson Winter & Slattery has an impressive track record acting for clients such as Envestra and BAA, which the group advised on the sale of its Australian assets. John Keeves, who is 'very good, and gets a lot of work from South Australia’, led the team advising Adelaide Bank on its merger with Bendigo Bank to create Australia’s seventh-largest bank.

Jones Day is best known for advising funds on P2P transactions, most recently advising HarbourVest Partners, Pantheon Ventures, Partners Group and Paul Capital Partners on the take private of Macquarie Capital Alliance. Matthew Latham is recommended.

Maddocks continued in its commitment to build a strong Sydney practice with the recruitment of Peter Shaw, Geoff Charnock and Sean Rush from Clayton Utz, Hicksons and Gadens Lawyers respectively, bringing partner numbers in the team to four. The group has acted for Archer Capital Growth Fund on a number of private equity deals.

John Mann’s team at Middletons targets transactions in the A$10-200m range, recently representing Bulk Handling Australia on the A$40m sale of its packaging business to Hawkesbridge Private Equity and advising InfoComp on its A$170m share sale to GBST.

Gadens Lawyers proves a 'good mid-market choice’. The group advised Kaman Aerospace on its joint venture with the Commonwealth of Australia for the sale of 11 defence helicopters and associated parts, worth A$400m. Other clients include Adelaide Brighton and Kennards.

It is slightly too soon to determine the capabilities of the newly merged HWL Ebsworth, but the group certainly maintains a strong presence in the transport sector and continues to act for DP World Australia.

Jackson McDonald is a 'quality Perth-based practice’ that has solid experience in the energy and resources market. Stephen Doyle is recommended.

Piper Alderman’s 17-partner team acted for the Skilled Group on its A$121m acquisition of Offshore Marine Services, and counts Neptune Marine Services and Orion Petroleum as clients.

TressCox is particularly strong in the healthcare sector, and recently advised United Medical Protection on its merger with the Medical Defence Association.

Blakiston & Crabb is best known for its IPO work, but also offers 'exceptional expertise in native title work’, an important feature of many transactions in Western Australia.

Kelly & Co’s Jamie Restas is a regular feature on significant South Australia transactions, acting for clients such as Futuris and Adelaide Bank. The group recently advised Hostworks on the A$70m acquisition by Broadcast Australia.

McCullough Robertson is a strong player in Brisbane and the preferred adviser to Flight Centre. Jim Peterson’s team recently advised AMCI and FRC groups on their acquisitions of stakes in Gloucester Coal, Helix Resources, Felix Resources and Cullen Resources.

Sparke Helmore acts for clients such as Coalworks and Bradken Resources, which the group advised on three acquisitions. Mark Simpson recently joined the team.