Allens offers a comprehensive service across the full spectrum of banking and finance work, with dedicated teams handling acquisition finance, asset finance and leasing, corporate finance and property finance streams. The department counts the four major Australian banks, multinational financial institutions, and market-leading corporate entities among its diverse client roster. Sydney-based team head Alan Maxton leads the corporate finance stream, and is highly respected in this space. Other key team members based in Sydney include Tom Highnam, who is known for his expertise in fund finance, leveraged finance and derivatives; Mark Kidston, the leader of the leveraged finance stream; the 'incisive' Jo Folan, who heads up the property finance team; and head of structured and asset finance Renee Boundy. Elsewhere, Ben Farnsworth is a notable name in Perth and Karla Fraser is a commercial real estate finance specialist in Brisbane. Junior partner Rita Pang (in Sydney) and Melbourne-based managing associate Ben O’Hoy are also names to note.

Gilbert + Tobin has a standout capability handling the full spectrum of banking and finance work for the most well-known and prestigious clients, from the top Australian banks to multinational private equity companies. Practice head John Schembri is a go-to name across the areas of acquisition, project, and corporate finance, regularly leading on major transactions, while also lending expertise in unitranche financings. Among other notable names in the team, the veteran Simon Lynch combines experience in property and construction financings with deep knowledge in LBOs and corporate facilities; Peter Doyle, a recent arrival from King & Wood Mallesons, has bolstered the department's project and infrastructure financing offering; and Gail Christopher continues rapidly to grow her impressive practice in acquisition, leveraged and corporate finance transactions. A junior partner to note, Adela Smith focuses her practice on the infrastructure and energy sectors, with a strong workload in project finance, and leveraged and syndicated transactions.

Combining a broad and impressive national practice with a highly regarded cross-border capability, Herbert Smith Freehills routinely advises on the full range of work in banking and finance for a client base including the four major Australian banks and an impressive roster of private equity companies, international investment banks, corporate and governmental bodies. Melbourne-based senior partner Andrew Booth heads up the large team, bringing specialist experience in property and corporate finance. Other key team members include John Angus, a veteran practitioner with a broad and impressive base of top domestic and international clients; Melita Cottrell, whose extensive experience in financing includes specialist knowledge in senior debt, mezzanine debt, and holdco debt instruments; and Hayley Neilson, an expert in leveraged finance. Junior partner Steven Catanzariti and executive counsel Marnie Fels are also names to watch. Recent team news sees the retirement of Amanda Wales and the departure of Laura Moulton-Sheridan in May 2020.

King & Wood Mallesons continues to deliver one of the strongest banking and finance offerings in the market, fielding a deep team with recognised practitioners across all specialist areas. In acquisition and corporate finance, practice co-head Yuen-Yee Cho is a clear go-to lawyer, maintaining a steady stream of large, complex deals for leading companies, private equity clients, and investment banks. With a practice spanning project and corporate finance, fellow practice co-head Jonathan Oldham in Melbourne is another key lawyer in the team. Evie Bruce acts as managing partner of the banking and finance department. The asset finance specialist to note is John Canning, while a key Brisbane-based practitioner is Aaron Bourke. Other key team members include Ken Astridge, whose practice includes property and corporate finance, and capital markets expertise; asset and structured finance expert Dale Rayner; and Andrew Maynes, whose broad practice includes major Australian and international borrowers and financiers. Named lawyers are Sydney-based unless otherwise mentioned.

Allen & Overy LLP has a highly distinguished cross-border banking and finance offering, comfortably handling large, complex transactions with multiple lenders across multiple jurisdictions. The practice benefits hugely from the firm's international presence on matters of this sort. Equally impressive is the firm's client base, which features the major Australian domestic banks in addition to global investment banks. Practice head Adam Stapledon is known for his expertise in implementing complex multi-source financing structures. Other key names in the team include Jason Huinink, a recognised expert in the asset finance space, especially in the aviation equipment and equipment leasing space, and junior partner James Abbott, who has developed a strong lending practice, especially particularly in the energy, resources and infrastructure sectors. The key name in Perth is Peter Wilkes, who handles a wide range of transactions, with emphasis on clients in the energy and resources sector. Other named partners are based out of the main Sydney office.

Clayton Utz fields an experienced and well-regarded team in banking and finance which is a trusted panel member for major Australian retail banks and international investment banks. The department's offering in corporate and acquisition finance is particularly strong, drawing on the expertise of practice head Alexander Schlosser, whose varied practice includes leading work in leveraged buyouts and complex refinancings. Another key lawyer in this space is Graeme Tucker, who regularly acts for a mixture of credit funds, banks, and non-bank lending institutions. Both are increasingly involved in developing the department's use of asset-based finance for corporate transactions, an area of promising growth. In property finance, Kathy Santikos maintains a broad and impressive practice, regularly advising domestic and international banks, global property funds, and sponsors. Melbourne-based Marcus Davenport is also a name to note. All other named lawyers operate out of Sydney.

Minter Ellison has an excellent reputation for providing specialist banking and finance advice to clients in sectors including financial services, health, energy and resources, agribusiness, tech, real estate, and private equity. Its long-term clients include the four major Australian banks, and it continues to attract new clients from among international investment banks and sovereign wealth funds. The firm has a reputation as a go-to firm for leading alternative capital providers. Asset finance expert James Mok heads up the team from Sydney. Other highly experienced practitioners include John Mosley, whose client base includes both borrowers and lenders; Daniel Marks, who has recently been involved in new areas including 'green loan' syndicated financing; and Tony Berriman, the head of the firm's property finance team. In a lateral hire, the highly experienced Ros O’Mally joined the Sydney office from Hogan Lovells in February 2020. All named lawyers are based in Sydney.

Arnold Bloch Leibler is known in particular for its strong Melbourne-based banking and finance practice, which focuses on the key areas of property and corporate finance, with additional expertise in project finance and restructurings. Sector strengths include construction, utilities, telecoms, property, and real estate. Department head Ben Mahoney centres his practice on large debt and equity financing and restructuring transactions. Other key names include Paul Rubenstein, whose work spans finance, restructuring and private M&A, and Genevieve Sexton, who regularly acts for borrowers and financiers on corporate finance transactions.

Baker McKenzie has recently continued to see a number of changes in personnel, with the retirement of Stephen Watts from the partnership in January 2020 (remaining on as a consultant) and the departure of Bryan Paisley to Hogan Lovells in February 2020. In a notable arrival, the up-and-coming Charlie Detmold joined the Melbourne office from King & Wood Mallesons in February 2020. The 'very strong' banking and finance practice, headed up by the Sydney-based Duncan McGrath, acts for a number of major domestic and international clients across a wide range of areas, including corporate and real estate finance and green and sustainable finance.

Gadens Lawyers retains strong links with clients in the property and construction sectors. Another area of activity is the corporate and institutional sector, where the practice has recently been active in corporate financing and acquisition debt financing. Clients of the practice include banks, superannuation funds, non-bank debt funds, offshore lenders and property developers. Doug Scobie heads up the team from Melbourne. In team news, corporate and acquisition finance practitioner Brad Allen departed for Hamilton Locke in June 2019.

HWL Ebsworth is known for its strong property finance practice, and acts for a wide range of borrower and lender clients, including major Australian and international banks, funds and investment companies. Harry Cormack heads up the team from Sydney.

The banking and finance team at K&L Gates acts for a range of clients including major domestic banks, alternative lenders, debt funds, professional trustees, sponsors and corporates. The key strength of the team is in complex mid-market real estate finance transactions. Jason Opperman heads up the national finance practice from Sydney, and Melbourne-based Alan Maclean is active in property finance in Victoria. In a major hire, Richard Hayes joined the Sydney office from Hogan Lovells in September 2020.

McCullough Robertson remains a strong force in east-coast property finance. Operating primarily out of offices in Brisbane and Sydney, the banking and finance practice advises both borrowers and lenders, including major Australian banks, financial institutions and corporate borrowers. The department is headed up by Wei Lim in Brisbane, who has experience in corporate and institutional debt financing, and David Gilham in Sydney, whose practice covers a wide range of syndicated and bilateral finance transactions.

Colin Biggers & Paisley is known for its specialism in property finance, regularly working on matters involving sectors such as construction, hospitality, and tourism, aged-care and not-for-profit. Practice head Kate Craig has particular expertise handling debt finance matters involving clients in the hotel, residential and commercial property industries. A recent hire into the team is Michael Bracken, who joined from Meridian Lawyers in August 2019.

Maddocks has a strong reputation in corporate and property finance. Sydney-based practice co-head Arlene Colquhoun is the name in the team for corporate finance, regularly advising corporate borrowers and financial institutions in transactions. Fellow co-head Ian Beattie is the name in the Melbourne team for property finance, and has recently been active across a number of major developments in Victoria.

Mills Oakley has recently undertaken a recruitment drive which has brought in names such as real estate finance specialist Graeme Gurney (now practice head) from Clayton Utz in June 2019, and project finance expert Tim Macmillan from Ashurst in August 2019. With a growing client list of banks, funds, and insurance companies, the firm is increasingly active in a number of areas, most notably property finance and corporate finance.

Pinsent Masons LLP acts for borrowers, lenders, and financial advisers on a wide range of banking and finance structures, and offers cross-border capability through its international network of offices. The practice has recently doubled in size, following the hire of Jim Hunwick from Johnson Winter & Slattery in November 2019. The practice is headed up by Jeremy King.