The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills’ deeply staffed team provides ‘timely advice’ from ‘technically superb and client-focused’ lawyers. Justin Pelly led advice to Lend Lease on its A$1.1bn cash advance and bonding facility to enable the acquisition of Valemus. Practice heads Patrick St John and John Angus (‘particularly experienced’) are highly regarded, and Lucy McCullagh (‘technically very astute’), Emma de Carle, Wendy Gwyn and Melita Cottrell are also recommended.

Within Capital markets, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills ‘consistently gives the best and most accurate legal advice’, and fields partners who are ‘more accessible and responsive’ than most. The group advised on Aston Resources’ A$1.2bn IPO, a matter co-led by Philippa Stone, the ‘doyenne of equity capital markets work’. It also acted for Santos Finance on a 60-year subordinated deferrable bond issue, raising €1bn. Other recommended lawyers are: Andrew Booth (‘provides practical advice’); Justin O’Farrell (‘very commercial’); the excellent Michael Ziegelaar and Evelyn Halls; Tim McEwen (‘excellent practitioner’); and Patrick Lowden, who heads the debt capital markets group.

Within Competition and trade, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills’ team is ‘top drawer’, and is highly regarded for M&A clearance, competition regulation and litigation. Recent highlights include defending a number of leading international airlines in cartel prosecutions brought by the ACCC and acting for Metcash in a contested merger case. Bob Baxt has stepped back to a consultancy position, but played a key role in advising National Australia Bank on the proposed acquisition of AXA Australia. Paul Hughes heads this ‘innovative’ group.

Within Construction, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills’ solid grounding in PPPs has resulted in a steady flow of instructions for its huge construction group. Response times typically ‘exceed the expectations’ of clients and the ‘appropriateness of the advice converts those who may be sceptical of the value of external legal services’. Practice head David Templeman leads this ‘outstanding’ team, which recently acted on the Gorgon LNG facility for Chevron Australia. Andrew Clark advised Victoria’s Department of Transport on D&C contracts relating to the $4.3bn Regional Rail Link Project. David Opperman is the team’s key disputes lawyer.

Within Corporate and M&A, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills ‘goes the extra mile to achieve the optimum outcome’. 2010 saw the group advising AXA SA on its A$14bn joint bid with AMP to acquire AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. It also acted for CSR on its proposed demerger. Recommended among the ‘outstanding practitioners’ are: Rebecca Maslen-Stannage (‘exceptionally talented’); Tony Damian (‘emerging superstar’); Rodd Levy; John Tivey; Robert Nicholson (‘very commercial’); Philippa Stone (‘respected by clients’); and Martin Shakinovsky.

Within Dispute resolution, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills provides a ‘superb’ level of service and remains a leader in this field. Michael Mills and Michelle Fox continue to advise Lend Lease in litigation pursuant to the World Trade Center cleanup. Department head Damian Grave is recommended, as is new partner and class action specialist Jason Betts; Grant Marjoribanks; the ‘standout and highly experienced’ Ken Adams; and the ‘impressive’ Geoff Healy.

Within Employment, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills had looked at divesting its employment practice, but in absence of such a move taking place the firm retains a ‘level of expertise in employment law that is second to none within Australia’. The ‘highly rated’ Graeme Smith recently represented Qantas in two trade union disputes and led the team in advising BHP Billiton on enterprise agreement negotiation strategies. The group operates to a ‘very high standard’, and is an ‘invaluable business partner’ to clients. Russell Allen is a ‘doyen of IR law’; Paul Burns, Chris Gardner and Tony Wood have ‘an excellent knowledge of legislation’.

Within Energy and resources, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills demonstrates ‘excellent service, business acumen, industry knowledge and gives appropriate advice’. Recent highlights saw the group advise Woodside on the $30bn Browse LNG project, and act for Santos on the A$1.3bn sale of interests in the $16bn GLNG project to Total and KOGAS. Justin Little, David Gray and Andrew Clark are recommended.

Within Insurance, Freehills is a third tier firm,

Freehills has a solid reputation for representing corporate insureds in litigation. The group, headed by Michael Mills and Michelle Fox, is advising Babcock & Brown International on regulatory investigations, D&O liability insurance issues, liability issues and a potential class action.

Within Intellectual property, Freehills is a second tier firm,

Clients ‘trust the team’ at Freehills with ‘the most important matters’. Recent highlights include acting for Baxters in the Federal Court in relation to registered designs and inducement of breach of contract, and defending Apotex in patent and copyright infringement proceedings brought by sanofi-aventis in the Federal Court. Other clients include Apple, Disney and GlaxoSmithKline. Kathryn Everett, Shaun McVicar and Campbell Thompson are recommended.

Within Legal market overview,

The major players nationally - Allens Arthur Robinson, Freehills, Clayton Utz, Blake Dawson, Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Minter Ellison - continue to attract top-end corporate deals, such as AXA SA and AMP’s joint bid to acquire AXA Asia Pacific Holdings, or the Singapore Exchange’s proposed takeover of the ASX.

Within Projects and infrastructure, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills’ team ‘remains composed and unruffled through the dark depths of transactions’. Peter Butler recently acted for Queensland Health on the $2bn Sunshine Coast University Hospital PPP project and Jason Ricketts advised the State Solicitor’s Office Of Western Australia on the development of the Fiona Stanley Hospital. David Templeman and the ‘particularly strong’ Josh Sgro acted for two consortiums on the Northern Territory Secure Facilities project. Patrick St John heads the group, which displays an impressive work ethic.

Within Real estate, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills combines ‘very good response times, good partner access and strategic advice’. The team lost Jay Andrews to Corrs Chambers Westgarth but retains a strong team, most notably Michael Back and Kerry Heilbronn. Its clients include developers and property fund managers such as Leighton Properties, Centro and Investa. The group continues to act for Lend Lease on the A$6bn Stage 1 development of the Barangaroo site.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Freehills is a second tier firm,

Freehills handles restructuring and traditional insolvency work for banks and other lenders. Daniel Brealey and Konrad de Kelroy recently advised ANZ on its role as receiver and manager of Burrup. The firm is acting for Centro Property Group and Retail Trust on its restructuring. Team head Peter Smith handles receivership work in Queensland. Desmond Sweeney retired in early 2011.

Within TMT, Freehills is a first tier firm,

Freehills recently bolstered its technology group by hiring Keith Robinson from Minter Ellison and Damien Bailey from Simmons & Simmons. James Crowe has a ‘terrific practice’, and continues to advise Telstra on matters ranging from supply agreements to network performance issues. Leanne Norman and Fiona Gardiner-Hill are strong across all facets of TMT, and acted for Seven Group Holdings on the $4.1bn sale of its media arm to West Australian Newspapers. Other key clients include Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Apple.

Within Transport, Freehills is a third tier firm,

Freehills’ rail practice has substantial experience in projects and construction. The team recently acted for Victoria’s Department of Transport on the $4.3bn Regional Rail Link project.