The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson, which has built a strong reputation in asset finance, recently advised Qantas on a $375m export-credit financing for two Airbus A380 aircraft. In another matter the group advised a banking syndicate on multi-currency revolving facilities totalling A$3bn made available to QR National after its IPO. Martin Coleman, who is ‘outstanding, quick, commercial and user friendly’, is recommended, as are Paul Jenkins, John Field, David Mason, Bruce Whittaker and Steve Smith.

Within Capital markets, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson fields a ‘deep team’ that has ‘some good young associates coming through’. Highlights included advising Kula Gold on its A$202.7m IPO of ordinary shares and listing on ASX. On the debt side, it acted for Goldman Sachs on Boart Longyear’s $200m Rule 144A notes issue. ANZ, Merrill Lynch and Rabobank are also clients. The ‘technically strong’ Sarah Dulhunty and the ‘very bright’ Jamie Ng are recommended, as is special counsel Graeme Tucker for his ‘patience and structuring skills’.

Within Competition and trade, Blake Dawson is a first tier firm,

Blake Dawson’s ‘astute’ and ‘knowledgeable’ competition group provides ‘high-quality legal advice’, coupled with a ‘pragmatic and commercial overlay’. The team recently advised BHP Billiton on antitrust matters relating to its proposed joint venture with Rio Tinto. Peter Armitage, who is praised for his ‘deep level of legal knowledge’, led the defence for Pick ‘n Pay in the highly publicised contested Metcash merger. Liza Carver joined from Gilbert + Tobin in August 2011.

Within Construction, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson’s Graham Read led advice to the Road Traffic Authority on project deeds and D&C contracts relating to the widening of the M5 motorway. Elsewhere, Chris Mitchell and Kevin Arkwright assisted Energy Australia with the construction of a cable tunnel in Sydney’s central business district. Other clients include Leighton Holdings and Brisbane City Council.

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

Blake Dawson is a ‘genuinely top-tier legal service provided by a team that is engaged, focused and a pleasure to deal with’. Traditionally strong in Melbourne and Perth, the firm has bolstered its Sydney team with two lateral hires: Jason Lambeth and Phil Breden from Gilbert + Tobin. The team advised BHP Billiton on its $43bn takeover bid for PotashCorp and acted for National Broadband Network (NBN) in its negotiations with Telstra in relation to the NBN project. Elspeth Arnold, Peter Stirling, the ‘up-and-coming’ Tiffany Barton, John Sartori, Mark Stanbridge and Roger Davies (‘a technically excellent lawyer with integrity’) are recommended.

Within Dispute resolution, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson provides ‘litigation services of the highest quality’. Andrew Carter, John Pavlakis, Peter Voss, Chris Davidson and Wen-Ts’ai Lim are ‘outstanding litigation lawyers’. John Emmerig, who has ‘exceptional ability’, is defending Lehman Brothers in a A$350m-plus class action pertaining to CDO investments.

Within Employment, Blake Dawson is a first tier firm,

Blake Dawson has the ‘expertise for big-ticket employment work’ and provides specialist advice on enterprise bargaining, executive contract disputes and industrial actions. The practice’s enviable client base includes large banks, shipping companies and energy and natural resources firms. Among recent instructions, the ‘razor-sharp’ Michael Tamvakologos recently acted for ANZ on its collective agreement with the Finance Sector Union, and Stephen Amendola assisted the government of Western Australia on reviewing its industrial relations (IR) laws. Richard Bunting, an ‘excellent strategist’ with ‘outstanding political acumen’, advised BHP Billiton on employee contract issues.

Within Energy and resources, Blake Dawson is a first tier firm,

Blake Dawson’s broad-based and multidisciplinary practice has handled matters across the iron ore, LNG, coal and energy sectors, among others. It advised BHP Billiton on its proposed $100bn-plus joint venture with Rio Tinto, and is assisting on LNG projects such as Browse, GLNG, Pluto and Sunrise. Practice head Geoff Gishubl is recommended. Leigh Warnick moved to Lavan Legal.

Within Insurance, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Particularly strong for insurance regulatory and advisory work, Blake Dawson counts a number of general and life insurers and other industry participants as clients, among them ANZ, Telstra, Marsh, Allianz and GE Insurance. Rehana Box, who has ‘deep knowledge of insurance’, is leading advice to the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation on insurance arrangements for a new alliance agreement to develop nuclear waste treatments.

Within Intellectual property, Blake Dawson is a first tier firm,

Blake Dawson’s IP team includes the ‘exemplary’ Peter Chalk, Belinda Findlay and Melinda Upton, who deliver ‘a practical and complete answer which doesn’t require extensive research and unnecessary expense’. The team gives ‘invaluable’ advice and provides ‘a complete service’. It is acting for Smith & Nephew in defending patent infringement proceedings in the Federal Court. Another Federal Court highlight saw it representing Apotex and Spirit Pharmaceuticals in a patent dispute with sanofi-aventis.

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, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson represents major sponsors and public bodies in multibillion-dollar, national projects. Chris Mitchell and Joanne Evans acted as lead adviser for the Federal Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy on the financing, construction and operation of the National Broadband Network. The team also advised RBS in its bid for the Gold Coast Rapid Transit PPP, and David Mason acted on a number of coal-related projects.

Within Real estate, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson’s real estate and property group includes Richard Brooks, whose ‘advice is always well considered’, and the outstanding John Stawyskyj. Stawyskyj led advice to the Plenary Group on the sale of a 70% interest in the Hilton South Wharf Melbourne Hotel to Host Hotels and Resorts. Stockland Group, GE Real Estate and Australand are also clients.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Blake Dawson is a first tier firm,

Blake Dawson is widely revered for its ‘top-tier’ restructuring work in Sydney and Melbourne. Ray Mainsbridge’s ‘untouchable’ team adeptly handles high-profile matters, including the $2.8bn Alinta Energy restructuring and the Lehman Brothers class action. Other clients include Merrill Lynch and Deloitte. James Marshall is a leading practitioner for business workouts, and Michael Sloan is highly regarded for his restructuring and insolvency advice.

Within TMT, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Tim Brookes and Gordon Hughes lead Blake Dawson’s ‘exceptional’ TMT practice. The group has recently handled a number of litigation matters for News Ltd and continues to act for the Australian Tax Office on a software integration project. Georgina Adams also comes recommended for her ‘pragmatic advice’ and ‘strong knowledge of IT contracting issues’.

Within Tax, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson represents three of the “Big Four” banks, and is excellent for both direct and indirect tax matters. The firm has recently advised on a number infrastructure projects including on NBNco’s financing agreement with Telstra. Ian Kellock (‘the grandfather of stamp duty’) and Len Hertzman led advice to BHP Billiton on its proposed merger with Rio Tinto. Duncan Baxter and Paul O’Donnell are also key figures in the practice.

Within Transport, Blake Dawson is a second tier firm,

Blake Dawson’s shipping capability has diminished somewhat due to the departure of Ernest van Buuren. However, the group remains dynamic in aviation and rail work, and recently advised Qantas on the financing of two Airbus aircraft and Surat Basin Rail on a large rail project. John Field is recommended.