What we say about the firm's legal practice in Australia
Banking and finance
Within Banking and finance, Gadens Lawyers is a third tier firm,
Recent work for Gadens Lawyers’ ‘excellent and commercial’ team includes advising on a number of A$400m-plus syndicated loans and a number of multimillion-dollar acquisition financings. Clients include HSBC, ING Direct and St George (a subsidiary of Westpac). Practice head Mark Skinner and Matthew Bode, who is ‘very responsive and acts with the minimum fuss’, are highly rated.
Construction
Within Construction, tier 4
Gadens Lawyers’ niche is in disputes, and it recently acted for CSR in arbitration with the Commonwealth. Despite a slowdown in front-end work, the team was instructed by AMP Capital to act on the upgrade of its international offices. Robert Riddell has temporarily relocated to Papua New Guinea but the ‘effective and practical’ Scott Laycock will hold the fort in his absence.
Corporate and M&A
Within Corporate and M&A, tier 4
‘Exemplary in all areas of service’, Gadens Lawyers offers ‘good value for money’ and is ‘very responsive to company needs’. The highly recommended Kym Livesley and Andrew Lind acted for Anchor Resources in respect of an off-market takeover bid by China Shandong Jinshunda Group through its wholly owned subsidiary Sunstar Capital. Charles Cowper heads the practice.
Dispute resolution
Within Dispute resolution, tier 6
Gadens Lawyers’ team is ‘extremely responsive’ and bills competitively. It acted for Austpac Resources in a matter in the Supreme Court of NSW concerning the sale of a mining resource valued at more than A$2bn. Practice head John Dalzell is recommended. Special counsel Louise Massey recently joined the team from PwC.
Employment
Within Employment, tier 5
Gadens Lawyers’ Mark Sant represented CHEP Australia and Metcash in defending claims brought by the National Union of Workers. Jane Seymour has now stepped back to a consultancy role.
Insurance
Within Insurance, tier 4
Recent work for the corporate risk and insurance group at Gadens Lawyers includes advising clients on property damage and business interruption claims arising from the Christchurch earthquakes. It has also been involved in advising in insurance claims arising from the Japanese tsunami and related causation issues and nuclear exclusions. Practice head Wendy Blacker and Ray Giblett are recommended.
Projects and infrastructure
Within Projects and infrastructure, tier 4
Gadens Lawyers has suffered from a slowdown in traditional projects work over recent years, but its ongoing relationship with Serco continues to provide the team with involvement in some noteworthy matters. Paul Brown and Scott Laycock recently acted for M7 Motorway Corporation on an agreement with Leighton/Abi Group.
Real estate
Within Real estate, tier 5
Gadens Lawyers’ Jenny Andrews and practice head Steve Healy are recommended. Andrews led advice to Metcash Trading regarding a new distribution facility at Huntingwood in NSW. ING, Lend Lease and Mirvac are also clients.
Restructuring and insolvency
Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4
Gadens Lawyers undertakes routine recovery file work for three of Australia’s “Big Four” banks. Team head Justin Bates ‘outstrips the competition’ when it comes to levels of service.
Tax
Within Tax, tier 4
Gadens Lawyers acts as corporate tax adviser to ASX-listed entities and large companies. Charles Cowper heads the team, which recently recruited energy specialist Damian O’Connor from Hopgood Ganim Lawyers.