The Legal 500

Within Banking and finance, tier 4

Johnson Winter & Slattery is a banking and finance boutique which, ‘in its specialist areas, is a match for the top Australian firms’. ‘Peopled by top-end lawyers’, the team ‘does not profess to be all things to all people but specialises in its chosen areas’. The team advised Envestra on a A$80m acquisition facility to acquire the Country Energy distribution network. Joint practice heads Jim Hunwick (‘a steel hand in a velvet glove’) and Philip Laity are highly regarded, and senior associate Michael Garry is ‘one of the stars in the making’. Recent additions include special counsel Paul Kasmer, formerly of Freehills, and Austin Bell, formerly of Blake Dawson.

Within Competition and trade, Johnson Winter & Slattery is a second tier firm,

Johnson Winter & Slattery’s forte is contestable work, advising clients on price-fixing allegations and other anti-competitive conduct. Under the management of Aldo Nicotra, the team continues to act for Qantas on the ACCC’s ongoing freight cartel investigation. Calum Henderson recently joined from Norton Rose Australia; a move that will enhance the team’s competition capabilities in the TMT sector. John Kench is another name to note.

Within Corporate and M&A, Johnson Winter & Slattery is a third tier firm,

Johnson Winter & Slattery strengthened its already well-regarded team by recruiting Austin Bell, formerly of Blake Dawson, and special counsel Paul Kasmer, formerly of Freehills. Overall, the team’s work is ‘excellent and the service impeccable’, and its boutique status allows it to ‘be more responsive and nimble than the big firms’. Practice head John Keeves led advice to Dominion Mining on its A$1.6bn merger with Kingsgate Consolidated.

Within Dispute resolution, tier 4

Clients rate Johnson Winter & Slattery ‘at the highest level’ for ‘corporate defence and litigation’. Other strengths include regulatory and receivership investigative processes, media litigation (it is acting for Channel 7 and Channel 9), and also directors and officers cases. It is currently acting for Edmund Groves, former CEO of ABC Learning Centres, in a series of proceedings including prosecution by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP). Tony Johnson, senior associate Sophie Rayner and the ‘first class’ Paul Reidy are recommended figures in this team of ‘experienced lawyers’.

Within Energy and resources, Johnson Winter & Slattery is a third tier firm,

Johnson Winter & Slattery provides ‘outstanding service, knowledge and good value for money’. The group advised Osaka Gas on the Greater Sunrise Project, and is advising Australia Pacific LNG on upstream infrastructure procurement and co-development agreements. James Marshall ‘looks for solutions not problems’, and is recommended along with Rick Malone, Peter Smith, and senior associate Natalie Tan.

Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4

Strongest in Adelaide, Johnson Winter & Slattery acts for receivers and managers on receiverships, and for executives in major administrations. David Proudman recently advised 22 Australian investors in the Belmont litigation in the UK’s Supreme Court.

Within Tax, Johnson Winter & Slattery is a third tier firm,

Richard Gelski heads Johnson Winter & Slattery’s tax practice, which advises corporate clients on the tax aspects of restructuring and fund investments for private equity firms. Rod Cox recently acted for Macquarie Bank in a GST dispute with the ATO. Other clients include Société Généralé and Unilever.