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Baker & McKenzie

LEVEL 39, RIALTO, 525 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE, VIC 3000
Zurich, Washington DC, Warsaw, Vienna, Valencia, Toronto , and 68 more

What we say about the firm's legal practice in Australia

Australia overview

Banking and finance

Within Banking and finance, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Cross-border financing is a matter of routine for Baker & McKenzie, which augmented its practice by recruiting former Macquarie Bank executive director Nicholas Grambas in 2009. The team advised the joint lead managers on a A$2bn equity placement to finance CBA’s acquisition of BankWest and St Andrews Bank. It has niche expertise in climate work, including innovative structured carbon credit deals.

Capital markets

Within Capital markets, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Andrew Rilley makes good use of Baker & McKenzie’s international network when assisting Australian and New Zealand corporations in foreign debt markets, particularly in the US. On the equity side, Frank Castiglia facilitates top and mid-tier equity placements, including advice to the joint lead managers on CBA’s A$2bn placement to fund its acquisition of BankWest.

Competition and trade

Within Competition and trade, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Andrew Christopher’s team at Baker & McKenzie frequently acts for the ACCC in competition matters. The firm is skilled in cartel defence and merger clearance: it represented Bayer in relation to an alleged rubber chemicals cartel, and advises new market entrants, particularly in the energy sector.

Construction

Within Construction, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Anthony Whelan in Melbourne heads Baker & McKenzie’s team, which is developing quality relationships with clients such as Coffey International, and won roles with Theiss and Degremont on their bid for Victoria’s desalination PPP project. The busy international practice advises Vestas Wind Technology India in drafting contract documents for wind farms in India.

Corporate and M&A

Within Corporate and M&A, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie advises on key M&A deals locally and internationally, and maintains a leading private equity practice. Steven Glanz’s corporate team advised Asahi Breweries on its A$1.2bn acquisition of Cadbury Schweppes’ Australian business, while Mark McNamara’s private equity team represents clients such as Ironbridge Capital and CHAMP Ventures. Christopher Saxon is recommended for public M&A.

Dispute resolution

Within Dispute resolution, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is well regarded for insolvency, competition and trade practices law, product liability, corporate regulatory work, and general commercial disputes. Andrew Christopher heads a team that successfully defended Optus Vision against a A$500m damages claim by The Movie Network Channels in the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

Employment

Within Employment, tier 4

Baker & McKenzie advised clients on Australia’s workplace reform initiatives, including their impact on M&A undertaken by Asahi, DHL and Blackstone. Dispute resolution is a key strength, and the firm is advising AMP on high-level executive litigation. Spiro Mellos advises clients such as the New South Wales Treasury, ALDI, and SITA Australia.

Energy and resources

Within Energy and resources, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Christopher Saxon heads a Baker & McKenzie team that is reputed for its energy M&A and regulatory capabilities; it also handles some renewables work. Recent instructions include advising the New South Wales government on state electricity reform. Other clients include Origin Energy and Vale.

Foreign firms

Within Foreign firms,

Norton Rose will become the newest foreign addition to Australia’s legal market when it finalises its merger with upcoming local firm Deacons. It will join a growing pool of foreign firms competing in a market that is already well served. Until fairly recently, Baker & McKenzie was the only firm to practise Australian law, but US firm Jones Day and UK firms Kennedys and Holman Fenwick Willan also now offer local law capability.

Intellectual property

Within Intellectual property, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie’s brand-focused practice is managed by Ross McLean. It represents household names across numerous sectors including clients such as Apple, Levi Strauss and Unilever. The firm is also known for anti-counterfeiting and IP outsourcing. The firm advised on Asian IP issues associated with Mars’ acquisition of Wrigley’s.

Projects and infrastructure

Within Projects and infrastructure, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie has experience advising bidders on a diverse spread of Australian and international projects, under head of practice Christopher Saxon. The firm recently represented First Delta in the A$150m Bank Apartments high-rise development in Melbourne. Other clients include Origin Energy.

Real estate

Within Real estate, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie targets real estate fund managers requiring assistance with portfolio management. Clients include and Credit Suisse, Deka Immobilien Investment, Becton, Challenger Financial Services Group and Macquarie Capital. Edwin Zemancheff heads the team.

Restructuring and insolvency

Within Restructuring and insolvency, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Bruce Hambrett heads the team at Baker & McKenzie, where Maria O’Brien is an emerging figure. The practice’s roots lie in pure insolvency and it has been involved in major property collapses of recent years, but it has been called on during the current crisis primarily for restructuring work. O’Brien is advising KordaMentha as administrators of Hans Continental Smallgoods and its subsidiaries.

TMT

Within TMT, Baker & McKenzie is a second tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie is widely recognised for its IT expertise, and its impressive client roster includes Dell, Fujitsu, Oracle, Apple and Cisco Systems. Under Anthony Foley, the practice is making strides in telecoms and media, with clients including peak industry bodies in these sectors. The Tasmanian government instructed the firm in connection with its pilot NBN rollout.

Tax

Within Tax, Baker & McKenzie is a third tier firm,

Baker & McKenzie has utilised its international network to develop a strong international client base, and advises on the full sweep of tax issues, including transfer pricing. Leading lawyers include Amit MacIntyre and John Walker, and clients include Eureka Funds Management, AMP and Citibank. The firm advised the Goodman Group on a restructuring and A$1bn capital raising.

What we say worldwide

Please choose another Baker & McKenzie office to view full details of what we say in that region, or choose from this list to view a specific editorial reference in context.

Australia

Offices in Sydney and Melbourne

Austria

Offices in Vienna

Azerbaijan

Offices in Baku

Belgium

Offices in Brussels, Antwerp, and Brussels

Bahrain

Offices in Manama

China

Offices in Beijing and Shanghai

Czech Republic

Offices in Prague

Germany

Offices in Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, and Munich

Egypt

Offices in Cairo

Spain

Offices in Madrid and Barcelona

France

Offices in Paris

Ghana

Hong Kong

Offices in Hong Kong

Hungary

Offices in Budapest

Indonesia

Offices in Jakarta

India

Italy

Offices in Rome, Milan, and Bologna

Japan

Offices in Tokyo

Kuwait

Kazakhstan

Offices in Almaty

London

Offices in London and London

Libya

Malaysia

Offices in Kuala Lumpur

Netherlands

Offices in Amsterdam

UK Overview

Philippines

Offices in Makati

Poland

Offices in Warsaw

Qatar

Russia

Offices in Moscow and St Petersburg

Sweden

Offices in Stockholm

Singapore

Offices in Singapore

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Offices in Riyadh

Switzerland

Offices in Zurich and Geneva

Taiwan

Offices in Taipei

Thailand

Offices in Bangkok

Ukraine

Offices in Kiev

US

Offices in Washington DC, Palo Alto, New York, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, San Diego, San Francisco, and Houston

Vietnam

Offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City

Search News and Articles

Legal Developments by:
Baker & McKenzie

  • Tax Reforms Towards the Creation of an International Financial Center in Russia

    In December 2009 the Russian Parliament adopted important changes further promoting the Russian holding companies regime. Starting from January 1, 2011 Russian holding companies will no longer be required to meet the present 500 million ruble threshold for investments made into companies qualifying as “strategic investments” to receive tax benefits.
    - Baker & McKenzie

Legal Developments worldwide

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

  • Labour & Employment

    1 What are the main statutes and regulations relating to employment? The main statutes relating to employment are the Portuguese Employment Code (approved by Law 7/2009 of 12 February 2009) and the Regulation of the Employment Code (Law 35/2004 of 29 July 2004) which is still in force notwithstanding the fact that parts have been revoked with the entry into force of the new Employment Code. Within the Employment Code, the vast majority of the rules are mandatory and, therefore, can only be modified by agreement of the parties and only if such amendment is intended to improve the position or rights of the employees.
    - F. Castelo Branco & Associados

  • Real Estate/ Property/ Infrastructure

    Norms for highway projects pact changed
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Projects, Energy & Natural Resources

    Power
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Litigation and Dispute Resolution

    Case Laws
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Intellectual Property Rights

    Amendments in Information Technology Act, 2000 The Information Technology (Amendment) Act, 2008 has come into force from October 27, 2009. Some key amendments in the Information Technology Act, 2000 (“IT Act”) are highlighted below:
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Cross Border Investments & Transactions

     
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Capital Markets/ Securities

    Amendments in (Substantial Acquisition of Shares and Takeovers) Regulations, 1997
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Trade Laws and WTO Matters

    Certain important and recent legal developments in this area are set out below.
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Taxation – Direct Taxes

    Income-tax (Dispute Resolution Panel) Rules, 2009
    - Seth Dua & Associates

  • Indirect Taxes

    Goods and Service Tax
    - Seth Dua & Associates
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