The Legal 500

‘One of the clear leaders in M&A advice in Australia’, Allens Arthur Robinson is an ‘outstanding’ practice with ‘detailed industry knowledge’. It advised Rio Tinto on its response to BHP Billiton’s $192bn pre-conditional offer, as well St George in its A$67bn merger with Westpac, Australia’s largest bank merger. It is ‘able to field a team of experienced lawyers whenever and wherever they are asked to’, including leading individuals such as the ‘very experienced’ Ewen Crouch, practice group co-head Jon Webster, and the ‘technically strong’ Guy Alexander.

Blake Dawson’s corporate clients are ‘always satisfied’ by its ‘quality of advice, pragmatism and personable service at all levels’. This ‘excellent’ national practice maintains a strong showing in M&A, particularly in the resources sector, and it advised on BHP Billiton’s bid for Rio Tinto, and Kirin Holdings’ $2.9bn acquisition of National Foods Group. Mark Stanbridge and the ‘stand-out’ David Williamson lead the team, with Bill Koeck, Marie McDonald and Elspeth Arnold also recommended.

Clayton Utz’s ‘innovative’ team enjoys good standing in the resources sector. It advised Origin Energy in response to a hostile bid by BG Group, resulting in the signing of a A$9.6bn joint venture with ConocoPhillips. The ‘great asset’ Rod Halstead led advice to HBOS in regard to its sale of BankWest to CBA. Michael Parshall, who acts for the likes of Illyra and Citigroup, provides ‘thorough, client-focused advice’.

Freehills’ ‘very strong’, ‘all-round first-rate’ practice delivers ‘excellent service’ and takes an ‘innovative approach to deals’. It regularly tops M&A league tables on deal volume, and has a national spread of top corporate partners including ‘stand-outs’ Philippa Stone, Rebecca Maslen-Stannage, Rodd Levy, and Tony Damian. The firm advised Santos on its multibillion-dollar partnership with Petronas to develop the Gladstone LNG project, and counselled Bupa Australia on its A$2.4bn union with MBF.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques is consistently praised for its ‘depth’ of team and ‘clarity of advice’, and it houses public M&A master Peter Cook and corporate and capital markets expert David Friedlander. The firm is a favourite for clients on cutting-edge deals: for example, it advised BG Group on its A$13.7bn bid for Origin Energy, and Chinalco on its proposed investment in Rio Tinto, noteworthy as the largest proposed outbound investment by a Chinese state-owned enterprise.

Baker & McKenzie advises on key M&A deals locally and internationally, and maintains a leading private equity practice. Steven Glanz’s corporate team advised Asahi Breweries on its A$1.2bn acquisition of Cadbury Schweppes’ Australian business, while Mark McNamara’s private equity team represents clients such as Ironbridge Capital and CHAMP Ventures. Christopher Saxon is recommended for public M&A.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has built a ‘quality team’ that is ‘efficient and commercial’, and provides ‘clear, reasoned advice’. Lateral hires Braddon Jolley and Sandy Mak from Freehills have helped advance the practice, and it is regularly present on major deals such as Vodafone’s $6bn merger with Hutchison and BG Group’s $1bn acquisition of Pure Energy Resources. John Slattery oversees the practice.

Deacons is rated by some as being ‘among the best in Australia’, and ‘understands the nuances of cross-border M&A’. It advises on major deals across Asia, most notably in energy and resources matters, and represented Thailand’s PTT on the A$488m acquisition of 60% of Straits Resources’ coal assets in Western Australia. Its leading lights include the ‘tactician’ Shaun McRobert, as well as Adrian Ahern, China expert Ian McCubbin and practice head Michael Wilton.

Gilbert + Tobin focuses on premium deals, winning major instructions such as advising Westpac on its merger with St George Bank, and AGL Energy on its A$1.2bn disposal of a 22% shareholding in Queensland Gas. Other clients include Woolworths, CSR, CBA and Telstra. Garry Besson and Gary Lawler head the practice.

Providing ‘outstanding strategic commercial advice’, Minter Ellison has a track record of innovation in the transactional space. It recently advised listed fund Macquarie Capital Alliance when it was taken private by a private equity consortium. Other deals included advising Suntory on its A$1.2bn acquisition of Frucor Beverages. James Philips heads the Sydney team, which includes the ‘good negotiator’ Costas Condoleon, while Melbourne partners John Steven and Bart Oude-Vrielink are ‘two of the best in the country’.

Jonathan Wenig heads Arnold Bloch Leibler’s ‘very client-centric’ corporate team, which also includes the firm’s managing partner Henry Lanzer. The practice typically acts on deals under A$1bn, such as advising SEEK Limited in its off-market purchase of a 10% interest in JobStreet.

Name partner John Atanaskovic is Atanaskovic Hartnell’s star all-round corporate lawyer, heading a corporate, finance and tax boutique that retains premium clients including Brown-Foreman and Halliburton. The firm advised Coca-Cola Amatil on the proposed A$8bn acquisition by Lion Nathan/Kirin.

Corporate boutique Chang, Pistilli & Simmons’ ‘outstanding’ team competes successfully for premium work. Clients say ‘their strength is in creative advice in difficult matters, rather than throwing large numbers of lawyers at a transaction’. Danny Simmons is ‘one of Australia’s best’, while the ‘excellent’ Lance Sacks and the ‘street-smart’ Mark Pistillli are also recommended. Clients include Babcock & Brown and Seven Network.

David Morris manages DLA Phillips Fox’s growing corporate contingent, with a deal volume that puts the practice in Australia’s top ten. Its advice to Fujitsu Australia on the A$200m acquisition of KAZ Group from Telstra is typical of its work.

Clients such as Woolworths and Goldman Sachs instruct Henry Davis York. Glenn Hughes is the main contact in a team that guided Security and Intelligence Services (India) on its first local acquisition - that of two security businesses from Chubb Security Australia.

Johnson Winter & Slattery advised ABB Grain on its A$1.6bn scheme of arrangement with Viterra. Other clients include Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse. John Keeves is ‘superb’.

Corporate-focused Jones Day is a ‘good firm’, say clients, with key partner Matthew Latham advising a consortium of investors on the A$837m public to private acquisition of Macquarie Capital Alliance, and Australian Health Management on its A$367m demutualisation and sale to Medibank Private.

Clients of Melbourne heavyweight Maddocks praise its ‘good understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements, can-do attitude, and ability to achieve commercial outcomes’. The firm’s foci include government, infrastructure and financial services. Peter Shaw is ‘outstanding’.

John Mann at Middletons heads a Melbourne team that targets transactions of up to A$200m. Mann advised the private equity arm of a major trading bank in a series of investments and exits.

Gadens Lawyers is a mid-market player with an ‘excellent corporate advisory service’, comprising ‘excellent lawyers offering service and cost advantage over larger firms’. Paul Brown is ‘invaluable’ for his ‘technical skill and pragmatism’. Clients include APA Group and Jetset Travelworld.

HWL Ebsworth’s ‘excellent’ full-service commercial practice serves Australia’s eastern seaboard, with strengths in transport, insurance, and competition. Clients include DP World Australia.

Perth-based Jackson McDonald has a reputation for ‘quality’ in the energy and resources market. Stephen Doyle is recommended.

Charles Bagot oversees the corporate department at Piper Alderman, which advises on complex acquisitions under A$500m, including having acted for Skilled Group on its A$121m acquisition of Offshore Marine Services.

TressCox regularly advises the BBC, and acted for ASX-listed Heemskirk Consolidated on power grid development in northern Spain. Michael Bracken heads the team.

Blakiston & Crabb’s full-service corporate practice handles M&A and restructuring work in Western Australia; it has ‘exceptional expertise’ in native title law, which is critical to deals taking place in the state.

Kelly & Co is a ‘preferred local firm’ advising national clients in South Australia, under the stewardship of the ‘particularly effective’ Jamie Restas. It advised ASX-listed Australian Vintage on its A$60m disposal of Loxton winery and Austflavour.

Brisbane-based McCullough Robertson is ‘outstanding in all respects’, with Brett Heading recommended for providing ‘innovative, coherent’ corporate advice; Jim Peterson heads the practice. Its ability to handle large deals was illustrated when it acted for Queensland Gas in relation to BG Group’s $A5.6bn on-market cash bid.

Sparke Helmore advises on M&A, private equity and capital raisings, as well as franchising and contracting. Clients include Coalworks and Bradken Resources.

Truman Hoyle advised Pelikan Artline on the purchase of Esselte’s Australian and New Zealand businesses. Andrew Seaton is ‘a superstar’ and ‘particularly outstanding’.