What we say about the firm's legal practice in Australia
Banking and finance
Within Banking and finance, tier 5
Kelly & Co has carved out a strong reputation in South Australia, advising clients such as Westpac, HSBC, St George and Rural Bank. Recent highlights include acting for Agricultural Land Trust and Codan on $60.9m and A$85m refinancings, respectively. Practice head Kenton Steicke is recommended.
Capital markets
Within Capital markets, tier 4
Kelly & Co has a strong reputation in the Adelaide market, and acts for national as well as local clients. The ‘accessible and well-reasoned’ Andrew Corletto led advice to Argo Investmans on its A$150m share purchase plan. Practice head Jamie Restas is also highly recommended.
Corporate and M&A
Within Corporate and M&A, tier 5
Adelaide-based Kelly & Co has a well-established reputation in South Australia, and capabilities to act for local, national and international clients. It advised Japanese company Marubeni on its 40% investment in South Australian water desalination company Osmoflo. Practice head Jamie Restas is ‘outstanding in terms of knowledge, commercial approach and business acumen’.
Dispute resolution
Within Dispute resolution, tier 6
Kelly & Co’s nine-partner dispute resolution practice counts among its clients News Limited, Santos and Seven Network. The team also acted for Clipsal in opposing a A$4bn Federal Court claim regarding IP in the Cbus 2 product suite and was successful in having proceedings dismissed; Rob Kennett led on the matter.
Energy and resources
Within Energy and resources, tier 4
Kelly & Co has a strong local client base in Adelaide that includes Adelaide Resources, and also acts for clients nationally. It acted for Santos on a range of procurement projects for its operations in South Australia, Queensland and Victoria with an aggregate value of A$1bn. Andrew Corletto is ‘accessible, well reasoned and highly knowledgeable’.
Intellectual property
Within Intellectual property, tier 5
Kelly & Co’s ‘high-quality’ IP group successfully represented Metcash Trading in a Federal Court action against unauthorised use of trade marks and business names. It also achieved dismissal of proceedings against Clipsal in a Federal Court claim regarding IP in the Cbus 2 product suite. Luke Dale and Peter Campbell are recommended.
Restructuring and insolvency
Within Restructuring and insolvency, tier 4
Kelly & Co fuses ‘excellent business acumen with sound commercial advice’. David Colovic adopts a ‘detailed and thorough approach in litigious matters’, and is a solid performer ‘in around-the-table negotiations’. Clients include Westpac and Kordamenta.
Tax
Within Tax, tier 4
Kelly & Co has ‘extremely high legal and commercial acumen’, coupled with a ‘deep insight into the key issues’. Tax ‘grandmaster’ Gary Winter represents clients such as Westpac and Home Support Services.