Allens operates in the top end of the public and private M&A market, regularly advising on high-value cross-border transactions on behalf of major corporates and global private equity sponsors. The firm's private equity practice stands out, with recent mandates from KKR, Cerberus, and Advent International overseen by practice heads Tom Story and Melbourne-based Mark Malinas. Story also maintains a broad practice in corporate M&A, leading on a number of market-significant and complex mergers. Guy Alexander is highly active in large-scale public M&A, advising on $35bn of deals during 2019, while Richard Kriedemann works on public company takeovers, corporate governance, and listed company restructuring matters. Brisbane's Chelsey Drake advises real estate, energy, and natural resources clients, and also sits on the Australian Government's Takeover Panel. Kylie Brown has a blue-chip client base across media, insurance, and infrastructure, while Vijay Cugati is recognised for his broad practice across complex takeovers, carve-outs, distressed M&A, and corporate governance. Lawyers are in Sydney unless otherwise stated.

Gilbert + Tobin's diverse corporate practice is routinely involved in large-scale and high-value mandates on behalf of major Australian companies, multinationals, and global private equity funds, with sponsor-side PE advice forming a key part of the firm's offering. A wide range of technically complex mandates includes cross-border mergers and investments, acquisitions, de-mergers, hostile takeover defence, and private equity buyouts. Peter Cook is highly regarded in the market for his role in major private equity and corporate transactions, with values regularly exceeding $1bn. Practice co-head Costas Condoleon handles complex corporate matters including takeovers, corporate governance, and securities issues. Melbourne-based co-head Neil Pathak is highly active in high-value deals, including advising AB InBev on its proposed $16bn sale to Asahi, and regularly advises PE funds on Australian investments. Rachael Bassil advises private equity, investment banks, and foreign entities on a range of acquisitions and exits. Lawyers are in Sydney unless otherwise stated.

Herbert Smith Freehills regularly advises clients on high-profile and market-critical M&A transactions of significant value, with a deep and broad stable of experienced partners capable of acting on deals in key market sectors. The team works with major corporate clients across Australia and the Asia-Pacific, multinationals, and global private equity investors such as Brookfield. Carolyn Pugsley oversees the corporate practice in Australia from Melbourne. Sydney's Tony Damian specialises in public company takeovers and takeover defence, contributing extensively to literature on the subject and acting for a number of major clients. Rebecca Maslen-Stannage advises on high-value transactions in the telecoms, technology, and retail spaces. Philippa Stone is recognised for her blue-chip client base and role in public M&A, privatisations, and corporate restructurings. In Melbourne, the highly experienced Rodd Levy advises on domestic and cross-border transactions of significant value, while Baden Furphy is noted for his role in large-scale M&A and demerger transactions. Robert Nicholson has retired from the partnership.

King & Wood Mallesons has an extensive and highly-regarded corporate team, combining full-service expertise across transactions, regulatory, and corporate governance issues with a strong client base of blue-chip ASX-listed companies, major private equity houses, and multinational corporates. The practice regularly advises on high-profile transactions, investments, and corporate structuring matters, and has notable cross-border capabilities. The team is overseen by Evie Bruce and Renae Lattey in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, and features a number of highly-regarded practitioners. David Friedlander has an impressive record in public M&A, including transactions, takeover advice and defence, and complex structuring mandates, including demergers and competitive sales processes. Jason Watts is also active in high-level public company M&A, combining this expertise with extensive experience in corporate governance and private equity work. Meredith Paynter is noted for her work on complex transactions across a variety of industries, including retail, food & agribusiness, and healthcare. Melbourne's Nicola Charlston has a growing profile in the healthcare and industrials sectors, building several key client relationships in recent years, while senior associate Jennifer Cheung remains highly recommended. Lawyers are in Sydney unless otherwise noted.

Baker McKenzie combines a broad range of sector focuses with integrated capabilities in capital markets, tax, regulatory, and finance, alongside a geographically diverse team capable of working on national and cross-border transactions. Clients include major listed companies, government bodies, private equity funds, and high net-worth individuals. Sydney's Ben McLaughlin co-heads the practice, leading the firm's corporate market group and advising on corporate governance and public and private M&A deals for domestic and international clients, with a particular focus on the life sciences sector. Co-head Richard Lustig is based in Melbourne, and advises listed companies on cross-border transactions as well as overseeing the firm's work on inbound Japanese investment. Also in Melbourne, Simon de Young specialises in work with private equity funds on a variety of domestic and cross-border acquisitions, divestments, and corporate restructurings. The practice expanded during 2019 and 2020, with notable arrivals including Brisbane-based pair Derek Pocock and Jim Peterson from McCullough Robertson.

Clayton Utz has a strong record acting for ASX-listed companies, private equity sponsors, and overseas investors, advising on complex and high-value investments, takeovers, acquisitions, and disposals. Alongside transactional work, the team also provides strategic advice to many of its high-profile clients. These clients come from a broad range of industry sectors, including health, retail, industrials, and IT, reflecting broad expertise across the practice. The highly-regarded Rory Moriarty leads the team, and advises blue-chip clients including Bain Capital and Virgin Australia, as well as serving as the youngest member of the Australian Takeover Panel. Jonathan Algar works with businesses on a variety of transactional and corporate governance-related matters, while Melbourne's Andrew Walker supports public and private companies in transactions and board-level issues. Brisbane's Stephanie Dawson is heavily involved in technical and transactional elements of mergers and takeovers, with expertise in shareholder activism and hostile takeovers. Lawyers are in Sydney unless otherwise stated.

Minter Ellison acts on a consistent flow of transactional mandates from corporate and financial sponsor clients, including major Australian businesses and private equity houses, most notably Brookfield and Anchorage Capital Partners. The practice is able to act across the life cycle of deals, including financing, documentation, regulatory aspects, and exits, with a broad range of transactions including strategic acquisitions, takeovers, mergers, investments, and disposals. Sydney's Bart Oude-Vrielink is a highly experienced and well-regarded practitioner, active in transactional and regulatory work across financial institutions, and public and private companies. Also in Sydney, practice co-head Constantine Boulougouris specialises in strategic advice to ASX-listed companies on governance issues, reputational risks, and transactions. Melbourne-based Joseph Pace also co-leads the practice, while Melbourne managing partner Jeremy Blackshaw has great experience in public and private M&A in the infrastructure and service sectors.

Allen & Overy LLP works on a prolific flow of deals from domestic and international clients, with its team in Australia forming a key part of the firm's Asia-Pacific platform. Partners are heavily involved in cross-border transactions and inbound investment deals, particularly on behalf of major Japanese corporates such as Asahi. The team is led by the highly experienced Aaron Kenavan, who advises on large-scale transactions in the chemicals, construction, and financial services sector, while Michael Parshall is recognised as a top-tier corporate counsel, advising clients on governance, deal structuring, and corporate financing matters. Jamie Palmer takes the lead on private equity work, advising funds such as Palisade and Crescent Capital.

Arnold Bloch Leibler advises a wide range of domestic and international public and private companies and investment funds on complex M&A transactions and investments. Matters include M&A deals within Australia as well as both inbound and outbound cross-border transactions. Clients operate across a variety of sectors, including energy, technology, and financial services. The team is led by Jonathan Wenig, who has a broad corporate and commercial practice across several industry sectors, and Jeremy Leibler, who focuses on mergers, takeovers, and shareholder activism. Christine Fleer focuses on private client work, while Sydney-based Scott Phillips advises on listed company M&A and capital raisings. Lawyers are in Melbourne unless otherwise stated.

McCullough Robertson offers a wide range of sector focuses, with expertise in life sciences, financial services, fintech, TMT, natural resources, and energy, particularly renewable energy. The team acts for a number of notable clients in these spaces, alongside banks and investment funds. Practice head Damien Clarke is noted for his broad commercial skills and tax expertise, advising on a number of complex energy and resources transactions. Firm chair Reece Walker provides strategic advice to listed companies, while Sydney-based Ben Mortimer works regularly with financial services and public sector clients. Also in Sydney, Adrian Smith advises on cross-border matters and is regularly referred work by international firms. Lawyers are in Brisbane unless otherwise stated.

Gadens Lawyers combines mid-market M&A and private equity advice with good capabilities in corporate finance and day-to-day corporate counsel. The team acts for medium-sized corporates in a range of key sectors, encompassing retail, agribusiness, and IT. Cross-border mandates are also a standout, with several transactions involving UK and European-based clients. The team is led by Jeremy Smith, an experienced partner with a broad practice encompassing corporate advisory, domestic and cross-border M&A, and joint venture documentation. Jol Rogers focuses on corporate acquisitions and takeover advice.

Jamie Restas in Adelaide and Sydney's Robert Gibson are key names in HWL Ebsworth's corporate and M&A practice, heading up the firm's commercial and transactional teams respectively. The firm concentrates on work for domestic clients across Australia, with matters including strategic restructurings, transactions, and takeovers.

K&L Gates has a full-service corporate offering, encompassing advice to boards and governance issues, corporate M&A, and private equity investments, with a range of sector specialisms across the firm's Australian offices including agribusiness, healthcare, venture capital, and sports. James Clyne joined the Perth office from Allens in late 2019, bringing a broad M&A practice in a variety of sectors including energy and commodities. Harry Kingsley joined the Melbourne office from Holding Redlich in early 2020 and specialises in financial services and infrastructure work. Cameron Abbott leads the overall practice in Melbourne, with the highly experienced John Mann another key name in the office. Perth's Adam Levine has a broad practice encompassing natural resources and tech platform deals.

Lander & Rogers offers a partner-focused service to domestic and international clients engaged in transactions and investments within key focus industries, including insurance and financial services, real estate, retail, and energy. Matters include mergers, acquisitions, asset and portfolio divestments, supply contract agreements, and advice to overseas clients making inbound investments in Australia. Melbourne-based Jackie Solakovski heads up the practice, advising on a variety of corporate governance and transactional issues, notably promoting the use of warrant and indemnity insurance in corporate M&A deals.

Maddocks focuses on the mid-market, advising small-to-medium listed companies, private companies, and global subsidiaries on a range of transactions. Another focus area is the firm's founder practice, which advises companies looking to sell to private equity. Sector specialisms include healthcare and education, with the practice also enjoying integrated tax and regulatory expertise. The team is jointly led by Duncan Hall in Sydney, who advises public and private companies and private equity houses, alongside Melbourne-based Damian Wurzel, who works with domestic and international corporates.

Mills Oakley works across a wide range of M&A matters, including public and private transactions, mergers in regulated and unregulated sectors, secondary capital raisings, and consortium structures. The practice acts for a diverse client base, including domestic and international corporates in a wide range of industries, such as consumer goods, professional services, energy and resources, and leisure. A large and geographically broad team features key lawyers across Australia, including Daniel Livingston and Warren Scott in Melbourne, Gavin Douglas and Simon Champion in Sydney, Tim Cox in Brisbane, and Perth-based duo Simon Panegyres and Andrew Crean.

Pinsent Masons LLP has expanded its share of the Australian M&A market, with focuses on energy, tech, and advanced manufacturing. The team advises on standard transactions, regulatory issues, joint ventures, and private equity deals, with a growing share of cross-border work on behalf of inbound investors. In particular, the firm regularly advises foreign investors on corporate considerations and applications to the Foreign Investment Review Board. Melbourne's Ewan Robertson heads up the team, and has significant international experience, having practiced in the UK and US. Perth's Brian Scott has similar experience, having worked across the Asia-Pacific on energy transactions.

Colin Biggers & Paisley works with corporate clients on public and private M&A transactions, financing, distresses sales and acquisitions, private equity sales, and corporate advisory issues, including listing and reporting obligations. Areas of focus include the financial services, insurance, retail, and real estate sectors. Jon Meadmore heads up the team, and focuses on acquisitions, commercial strategy, and risk management advice to corporate clients. Brent Van Staden advises on M&A, takeovers, and capital markets matters, and also has regulatory and tax expertise. Syndey's Connie Chen specialises in cross-border work, regularly advising on transactions and projects in Australia and China. Lawyers are in Brisbane unless otherwise stated.