Firm Profile > Norton Rose Fulbright > Brisbane , Australia

Insurance Tier 1

Norton Rose Fulbright’s insurance team offers decades-long experience and is considered ‘one of the brightest stars in the field of insurance’. Tricia Hobson leads the practice, which handles both contentious and non-contentious matters including directors and officers liability, life and income protection, and insurance-related class actions. The group serves an extensive client roster of high-profile insurers, underwriters, claims managers, product developers, brokers and reinsurers. A key strategic advantage is the firm’s global presence, which allows the team to frequently act on cross-border matters including a stream of mandates from the London insurance market. It also advises on warranty and indemnity insurance, as well as cyber insurance coverage which 'highly skilled litigator' Jacques Jacobs is known for. Equally highly regarded on the contentious insurance side, Nicole Wearne is noted for her experience in acting on high-profile class actions, and her expertise in areas such as D&O, and professional indemnity. Ray Giblett’s practice focuses on both contentious and non-contentious issues in the financial services sector. Samantha Kelly has left the practice and John Moran departed to Clyde & Co LLP. Mark Attard is also a key figure in the team.

Transport: aviation Tier 1

At Norton Rose Fulbright, Tom Young delivers extensive understanding of the regulations governing the aviation and airport industries. He is particularly experienced in the protection of prescribed airspace, controlled activity requirements and airport privatisation and is also increasingly developing a reputation in the drone space. Based in Brisbane alongside Young is special counsel Julie Brown, an up and coming expert on the regulatory and real estate considerations of airport commercial partnerships and privatisations. A highlight from the recent caseload saw the team act for Qantas in relation to an opposition filed against its trade mark application for QANTAS ASSURE.

Banking and finance Tier 2

Under the joint leadership of Nuncio D’Angelo and Alex Mufford, Norton Rose Fulbright leverages its global network to act for domestic and international banks and finance providers, export credit agencies and corporate clients. The group is notably active in corporate, acquisition and property finance mandates across its Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth offices; Hamish Dixon is a key name for development, project and corporate financing work, and Chris Patten, who splits his time between Brisbane and Melbourne, also handles non-recourse lending and specialised finance matters. Energy sector specialist Kelly Davies and project finance lawyer Lisa Koch were promoted to the partnership in 2019.

Construction Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright possesses a distinct focus on projects and disputes in the transport and infrastructure, energy and natural resources, government and property sectors. Practice head Emanuel Confos is acclaimed for his drafting and negotiation of project documentation. He oversees a team which is active in both Australia and the wider APAC region, assisting clients at all stages of construction. Recommended alongside Confos are Melbourne-based Grant Ahearn, who has extensive expertise advising on commercial and residential constructions and Sydney-based Kevin Arkwright who focuses on representing federal, state and local government agencies. Four partner-level arrivals have significantly added to the department’s depth with Richard Morrison, Holly McAdam and Martin Taylor arriving from Sparke Helmore Lawyers and also Miriam D’Souza who joined from Herbert Smith Freehills.

Dispute resolution Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright handles disputes across a wide range of sectors such as energy and mining, financial services, health and aged care, and infrastructure and construction. The team often adopts a multi-disciplinary approach; recent examples include close cooperation with the firm’s environmental, construction and energy teams. The practice is jointly headed by Rebecca Whittle and Melbourne-based Cameron Harvey. Clients single out the expertise of Grant Bonner, whose practice focuses on corporate litigation and regulatory investigations. ‘Excellent achiever’ Michael Sullivan has carved out a reputation as a preferred litigator for clients in the public sector. On the arbitration side, Andrew Battisson and Perth-based Dylan McKimmie lead the arbitration group, which has the ability to handle cross-border work under all main sets of international arbitration rules. In March 2019, Stephen Gorry departed to accept an in-house counsel position.

Dispute resolution: class actions Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright handles  a wide variety of class actions, including shareholder, securities, environmental, consumer, and insolvency-related claims. Traditionally, the team also has a strength in the product liability space, particularly in relation to healthcare products and drugs. The group is also acting on multiple instructions in the financial services sector. A key strength for the firm is its ability to draw on the expertise of the firm’s global network. Tricia Hobson and Cameron Harvey, based in Sydney and Melbourne, respectively, jointly head up the practice, where Nicole Wearne is also a standout practitioner. Toby Biddle is recommended for ‘putting effort in resolving a dispute in the best and most suitable manner for his client’. Grant Bonner is also noted.

Energy (transactions and regulatory) Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright is home to an impressive team that provides the energy industry with the full range of skills in relation to both traditional and new energy technologies. It advises on the life cycle of energy projects including specialist financing and counts financiers and other investors among its clients. Head of the energy team and co-head of the APAC group, Paul Lingard in Perth has an established track record assisting Australian and multinational companies with their operations in the power and oil and gas sectors and counts Woodside, Osaka Gas, Quadrant and ConocoPhillips among his clients. Kelly Davies heads the power industry team from Sydney and Claire Forster has a focus on utilities and national energy law; the Snowy Hydro retail business is a long-standing client. The enlarged team includes Miriam D’Souza who joined from Herbert Smith Freehills; David Jewkes from King & Wood Mallesons and Jessica Davies from Clifford Chance.

Intellectual property Tier 2

As part of the firm’s global IP group, Norton Rose Fulbright's IP team in Australia is appreciated for its ‘high-quality commercial advice’. Teams in Sydney and Melbourne are recommended by clients for their ability to handle complex, cross-border work of a contentious or advisory nature. The ‘truly impressive’ Frances Drummond specialises in trade mark law, handling all issues regarding portfolio management, enforcement and exploitation. Drummond jointly heads the national practice with Cameron Harvey, who takes the lead on contentious matters. Other key contacts include Georgina Hay, who assists clients with brand and other IP asset management, and Jackie O’Brien, who often assumes a managing role in litigation, most recently leading a team representing Aldi Foods Pty and Aldi Pty in a trade mark case against Moroccanoil Israel. Senior associate Alyson Poole is also noted.

IT and telecoms Tier 2

Based in Sydney, Nick Abrahams, Martyn Taylor and Peter Mulligan lead the Norton Rose Fulbright TMT group which deals with contentious and non-contentious telecoms and technology matters for Australian and internationally-based clients including on cross-border transactions. It also includes state and federal government agencies among its clients. It handles the gamut of mandates - in addition to areas such as outsourcing and cloud computing, it also advises on big data analytics, privacy, cyber security and AI.

Labour and employment Tier 2

Jason Noakes sits at the helm of Norton Rose Fulbright's labour and employment team in the Sydney office. The group is regularly engaged to represent its enviable client roster in civil court cases and tribunal advocacy in complex employee disputes, and is well-known for its strong industrial relations expertise, particularly on large construction and energy projects. Also notable is the group's outstanding track record in the public sector where it routinely acts for state and federal government entities. Sally Woodward is another key name in Sydney; Sarah Ralph is based in Melbourne and Martin Osborne sits in Brisbane.

Project finance Tier 2

Jo Crew heads the Norton Rose Fulbright project finance and infrastructure group from Melbourne. The team advises sponsors, financiers, infrastructure funds, government departments and corporates on the financing of major transport, energy and social infrastructure projects. Crew has led teams on projects relating to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the Ararat Wind Farm and Melbourne University's student accommodation expansion. Rob White, Alen Pazin (Perth) and Lisa Koch are other key team members.

Regulatory compliance and investigations Tier 2

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright possesses expertise in regulatory approvals and clearances, regulatory audits, reviews, investigations and enforcements as well as issues such as fraud investigations and recovery actions. It is also well placed to provide strategic risk management advice and operates across the financial services, life sciences energy and natural resources, transport and telecommunications sectors. The team also advises regulators on investigation and enforcement matters. Practice co-head Scott Atkins acted for liquidators Grant Thornton in its trans-national investigation and recovery action for allegedly misappropriated funds. Grant Bonner operates from Sydney alongside Thornton and they head the department alongside Melbourne-based Peter Cash.

Restructuring and insolvency Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright handles contentious and non-contentious mandates for a mixture of domestic and international clients including financial institutions, creditors, syndicated lenders, investors and insolvency practitioners; notable examples include ANZ, Grant Thornton, KordaMentha and CBA. Alongside traditional financial and operational restructuring matters, the group is singled out for its distressed transactional lending and enforcement work and ability to handle cross-border mandates. Steven Palmer and Alex Mufford jointly lead the group from Melbourne and Sydney respectively; other noteworthy names include Scott Atkins, who is particularly praised for his cross-border insolvency expertise; and the highly regarded John Martin.

Transport: shipping Tier 2

Norton Rose Fulbright is reputed for its extensive industry knowledge, namely in the mining, oil and gas, marine insurance, commodities, financial services and government sectors. Forming its caseload are a range of regulatory issues, casualty response, shipping finance, sanctions, cybersecurity, marine insurance claims and risk advisory matters. Sydney-based senior associate Jacob Smit is an expert in all aspects of contentious and non-contentious international trade. Hazel Brasington departed to Ashurst and former practice head Ernest van Buuren has departed to join Clyde & Co LLP.

Competition and trade Tier 3

Jointly headed by Nick McHugh and Martyn Taylor, Norton Rose Fulbright fields a sizeable competition and trade department, which acts for domestic and international clients on merger clearances, contentious competition matters and regulatory affairs. In one notable work highlight the group is acting for Vodafone Hutchison Australia on the A$15bn merger of Vodafone and TPG Telecom. Apart from telecoms, the department also has experience of industries including healthcare and pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods, transport. Belinda Harvey and Melbourne-based Andrew Riordan are other key names to note.

Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright is known for its global capabilities; in addition to acting of Australia-based companies, it advises incoming investors and private equity houses. It is especially active in the resources and energy markets in addition to a focus on the telecoms, life sciences and financial services sectors. It has experienced a turnover of personnel and this year has recruited a number of new lawyers, especially in the Perth office. Richard Lewis and Alison Deitz head the group from Sydney and the highly experienced John Elliott, also based in Sydney, has led on a number of high-value transactions. Shaun Clyne also offers many years of experience on public M&A and Adam Edelman heads the Perth office. Effective July 2020, Deitz will become the Australia managing partner.

Labour and employment: workplace health and safety (WHS) Tier 3

At Norton Rose Fulbright, Katherine Morris heads up the practice following Aaron Anderson’s departure to Herbert Smith Freehills; Morris is singled out for her knowledge of the infrastructure and energy sectors and also acts for global high-risk organisations and government agencies. Clients also benefit from the firm’s global network and its health and safety legal risk management and 24/7 emergency response services in addition to its  national offices in Canberra, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth.

Natural resources (transactions and regulatory) Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright provides 'a strong balance of the commercial with the legal' and the Perth lawyers are especially highlighted. The 'pragmatic' Keira Brennan and 'high-calibre' Jake Howard lead the practice; Gavin Scott specialises in front-end transations, native title and regulatory matters and Lisa Koch, who has relocated to Sydney from the London office, advises on the financing aspects of mining deals. The firm is well known for its multi-jurisdictional capabilities and a number of new hires and internal promotions has refreshed the practice.

Project development Tier 3

At Norton Rose Fulbright, Jo Crew leads the infrastructure and project finance group; she is especially highly rated for the project finance side of her practice. Kevin Arkwright advises a range of government clients on major infrastructure and PPP matters in areas such as transport, telecoms and health and the team has a strong focus on infrastructure projects in the energy industries in addition to transport and social infrastructure. Other key team members include Emanuel Confos (construction and engineering) and a number of project finance  and construction partners. It also provides a full range of related specialisms including in corporate, environment and insurance.

Real estate Tier 3

Norton Rose Fulbright represents both onshore and offshore real estate investors in relation to investment grade real estate and also assists local and international clients with transactions in the residential, mixed-use, office, retail, agricultural and renewable energy sectors. Michael French heads the practice, practising with a focus on development, financing, acquisitions and disposals, leasing and managed funds. The practice continues to develop its reputation in the social infrastructure sector and was recently bolstered by the arrival of Adrian Jones who works on joint ventures, management agreements and due diligence. Recently made up partner, Will Webster represents institutional investors, developers and government agencies and Peter Trevaskis departed to Johnson Winter & Slattery. While  French and Webster are Brisbane-based, other key lawyers are located in Sydney.  

Tax Tier 3

Keystones of Norton Rose Fulbright’s practice include the charity, financial and insurance sectors with the team handling the full suite of direct and indirect tax advice including income, GST, duty and other state taxes. Sydney-based Greg Reinhardt oversees the department with a distinct focus on managed investment funds, derivative markets, insolvency and restructuring. In Melbourne, Adam Smith is developing a reputation as a ‘leading tax advisor’ in sectors such as banking and finance, property, telecommunications, retail and technology.

Capital markets

Norton Rose Fulbright handles debt, equity and securitisation mandates with James Morris, Melbourne-based Jeremy Wickens and Alex Mufford leading each group respectively. The practice leverages the firm’s global network to advise on cross-border capital markets transactions; it is part of the team that assisted the Bank of New York Mellon on its Euro-denominated debt issuances. It has also been active in the social impact bond space and is increasingly handling securitised and structured capital markets mandates. ECM practitioner David Jewkes, who is based in the firm’s Perth office, recently rejoined the firm from King & Wood Mallesons.