The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

DLA Piper Australia increased its Melbourne presence by recruiting Bill Glover, formerly of Freehills, and special counsel Ben Hamilton, formerly of Deutsche Bank. The group represented Westpac as lender on a A$474m syndicated warehouse finance repurchase facility for Emerald Grain Australia, and is advising Oakajee Port & Rail (OPR) on various matters including financing structures from a lender group that includes ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac.

Within Capital markets, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

DLA Phillips Fox fully integrated with the DLA Piper LLP network internationally and was renamed DLA Piper Australia. It provides comprehensive advice on equity capital market matters with a particular focus on cross-border transactions. Clients note that the team ‘seems to be challenging the big guys but at a fraction of the cost’. Led by practice head David Morris and Catherine Merity, the team acted for new client REVA on its A$85m IPO and ASX listing.

Within Competition and trade, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

Simon Uthmeyer’s practice at DLA Piper Australia specialises in restrictive trade and regulatory advice. The team recently represented Cathay Pacific in enforcement proceedings brought by the ACCC, and also assisted Fortescue Metals with representations made in the Australian Competition Tribunal.

Within Construction, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper Australia gave key advice to Oakajee Port and Rail on a number of procurement and construction contracts in relation to its rail and deepwater port project. Jane Hider and John Gallagher also advised Victoria’s Department of Transport on a rail extension project in Melbourne.

Within Corporate and M&A, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper Australia recently handled matters for ING Real Estate Health Fund and Super Investment Management. In addition the group advised Ebro Foods in relation to its proposed A$600m acquisition of Ricegrowers (SunRice). Practice head David Morris played a key role.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 5

DLA Piper Australia adopts ‘a common-sense approach to litigation’, producing ‘good outcomes at a low cost’. The team’s greatest strengths lie in insurance-related matters and the firm’s extensive cross-border capabilities. The group recently successfully defended FMG against 18 criminal charges brought under the WA Occupational Safety and Health Act. Grant Hooper and special counsel Brendan O’Brien are recommended.

Within Employment, tier 4

After John Tuck’s departure in early 2011, DLA Piper Australia has scaled back its employment group. However, Simon Billing recently defended Fortescue Metals Group against 18 occupational health and safety (OH&S) criminal charges, and Andrew Ball and Nick Ruskin acted in two large termination cases. IR veteran Allan Drake-Brockman heads the practice.

Within Energy and resources, tier 4

DLA Piper Australia’s mining sector expertise earned it an instruction to advise Crosslands Resources on approvals for the A$3bn Jack Hills iron ore mine expansion. The team is also advising the Australia Premium Iron joint venture on management of the $5bn West Pilbara iron ore project. Damian McNair is ‘strategic in his advice’, and Robert Edel has a ‘very solid understanding of the Western Australian market’; also, David Nancarrow’s ‘previous experience as a civil engineer brings significant benefit’; special counsel Bruce Linke ‘brings with him significant engineering construction expertise’; and Stephen Webb is also recommended.

Within Foreign firms,

Allen & Overy LLP and Norton Rose Australia continue to gain traction in the market, particularly in the banking and finance space, although each with a slightly different focus; the former concentrating on high-end financial work and the latter seeking to access the wider Asian market. In 2011, DLA Phillips Fox formally integrated with the global DLA Piper LLP network to create DLA Piper Australia.

Within Insurance, DLA Piper Australia is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper Australia’s 29-partner insurance practice provides ‘a very high level of service’, ‘advising on the commercial nature of the matter as well as the law’. The team is representing the Insurance Council of Australia in the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry and in the Federal Review into Natural Disasters. Among those recommended in this ‘technically proficient, reliable and responsive’ group are: Lindsay Joyce, Andrew Sharpe, John Goulios and David Leggatt, who are ‘all very good at quickly getting to the root of the issue, advising on the position and providing a strategy for resolution’.

Within Intellectual property, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper Australia’s clients appreciate ‘the breadth and depth of the practice’, and benefit from the ‘co-ordinated service over multiple jurisdictions’. The team obtained an injunction in the Federal Court for ESPN, prohibiting Final Siren Events from staging an event that was unaffiliated with but misleadingly similar to ESPN’s established X Games event. It has also been advising Defence Material Organisation on IP aspects of a multibillion-dollar procurement. Other clients include REVA Medical, Snapper Media, Nuplex Group and Toyota. Judith Miller is ‘an indispensable resource’, Alec Christie is ‘proactive rather than reactive’, Shannon Platt is ‘extremely able and competent’, and Anthony Willis’ ‘strengths are his direct manner and ability to think ahead’.

Within Projects and infrastructure, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper Australia bolstered its projects team by bringing in four partners from its UK and Dubai offices, among them Damian McNair; he and Robert Edel led advice to Oakajee Port and Rail on concession agreements and construction contracts for its $6bn rail and deepwater port project. Jane Hider and John Gallagher acted for the Victorian Department of Transport in its $4.2bn Regional Rail Link project.

Within Real estate, tier 4

DLA Piper Australia has recently represented Australian REITs and property groups such as Charter Hall, Valad and FKP on a number of transactions. Rod Besley and Tony Butler are advising FKP on its Brisbane Gasworks redevelopment project. Tom Cantwell heads the practice.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

In terms of insolvency, DLA Piper Australia is a ‘superior operator in the Sydney market’. Adept at ‘resolving challenging situations’, the group regularly advises Westpac in the workout space, handling restructuring and asset repossessions. Bill Chapman is an ‘astute, commercial lawyer’, and Scott Harris provides ‘a seamless service across borders’.

Within TMT, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

DLA Piper Australia has increasingly focused on public sector IT, and has recently won a number of federal government contracts. Technology procurement expert Caroline Atkins advised the Australian Government Information Office on a volume sourcing arrangement with Microsoft, and cloud-computing specialist Alec Christie advised Fujitsu on a purpose-built data centre. Clients are ‘extremely happy’ with the services provided.

Within Tax, DLA Piper Australia is a third tier firm,

Corporate tax is the main focus for DLA Piper Australia’s team, which recently assisted Harvard University on its first Australian investment. Other highlights included Jock McCormack advising Public Infrastructure Partners LP and HRL Morrison & Co on purchasing a large interest in the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre. James Newnham joined the team from BDO as the firm filled the gap left by Phillip Byrnes’ retirement in April 2011.

Within Transport, DLA Piper Australia is a second tier firm,

DLA Piper Australia bolstered its transport group by bringing in Damian McNair and PPP specialist Alex Guy from the firm’s Middle East and UK offices, respectively. The team provides ‘practical advice that’s not too black letter law’, and played a key role in advising Oakajee Port & Rail on a $6bn development. The ‘client-focused’ Andrew Tulloch and Martin McEniery are recommended.