Johnson Winter & Slattery > Perth, Australia > Firm Profile

‘They are unusual in that, due to their corporate client base, they act on both sides. This makes them formidable opponents because they understand a class action from all angles.’

‘A team that is full of energy – really smart people who consistently deliver. They listen to clients and work with them to get the best outcomes on cases. The partners are savvy and extremely experienced. A very safe pair of hands, and able to deal with the most complex of matters.’ 

‘The teams we work with have some exceptional associates who you can really trust. They are hard working and drive litigation. A number of the partners we work with too are extremely impressive and bring strategic direction to challenging litigation, and rigour to decision making.’

‘JWS has an experienced and hands-on team in its class actions practice. Something that sets them apart from other firms is their willingness and ability to get involved in the legal framing of the case and its development through to trial, and at trial. This includes legal analysis and preparation of evidence.’

‘Paul Reidy is one of only a handful of class action lawyers in Australia that I would trust with a significant investment. He is excellent – incredibly hard-working, sharp, a good strategist and very user-friendly.’

‘Paul Reidy is a highly experienced and strategic litigator. His strength is knowing when to get involved in strategic and forensic decisions, and when to let the solicitor and counsel team progress the case.’

‘The practise creates a personalise boutique feel without compromising on expertise and credibility. JWS litigation is technically very strong but also very strong in delivering the more subjective parts of managing through litigation matters including; managing clients time, resources, expectations and well-being.’

‘A team that is full of energy, really smart people, and who consistently deliver. They listen to clients and work with them to get the best outcomes on cases. Some superstar associates in the team, and partners who are savvy and extremely experienced. A very safe pair of hands, and able to deal with the most complex of matters.’

‘The teams we work with have some exceptional associates who you can really trust. They are hard working and drive litigation. A number of the partners we work with too are extremely impressive and bring strategic direction to challenging litigation, and rigour to decision making.’

‘Paul Buitendag is user-friendly, incredibly hard-working, commercial and able to manage a case to a successful conclusion.’

‘The group, led by Paul Buitendag, is very strong. They are super flexible when it comes to fees and arrangements, as well as commercial. And they have experience on both sides. A class act.’

‘Paul Reidy, builds great rapport and client confidence easily. His technical skills and strategic and open approach to matters is fair, reasonable and in the client interests over fees.’

‘Felicity Karageorge, is a great example of someone managing to transition between being heavily in the details and massive workload while successfully also stepping into senior strategic decision making. Very approachable and extremely knowledgeable.’

‘The team – Nicholas Grambas in particular – is supremely commercial, reactive, on top of details and works 24/7. They are also technologically advanced – able to work across multiple collaboration platforms -, pay attention to diversity as a priority in my experience and have great relationships and credibility with other lawyers and law firms, which is important.’

‘Nicholas Grambas is encyclopaedic in his knowledge of the law and of renewable energy markets, yet very commercial, articulate, an excellent negotiator – in other words, well liked by counterparties too, which is a great help – and always available.’

‘Johnson Winter Slattery have a well established media-law practice. They advise a broad range of clients, mainly media publishers, and are skilful and adept at managing both large and smaller litigation while always maintaining a commercial focus. Their advice is practical, realistic and commercial.’

‘Johnson Winter & Slattery provide a lean and efficient service to their clients. Their media law team is comprised of a small number of specialists in the field who are able to provide quick and practical advice and who run litigation efficiently and effectively – perhaps more so than other firms in this area.’

‘Kevin Lynch, partner, is an experienced and shrewd litigator who is highly effective and extremely responsive to his clients’ needs.’

‘Johnson Winter & Slattery is responsive, flexible with timing, accommodating to difficult circumstances, and generous with their time. The firm has innovative ideas and through the pandemic communicated effectively using technology.’

‘Working with Johnson Winter & Slattery has meant that communication is seamless, and work is delivered in a timely manner, to a high standard.’

‘Kevin Lynch is very experienced, practical, commercial in approach and cost-effective.’ 

‘Our primary contact at JWS is Prashanth Kainthaje, who in my view is one of Australia’s leading cross-border tax practitioners. He is very proactive and innovative.’

‘Stewart Grieve has provided us with a wide range of expert advice in a timely manner.’

‘Team with broad experience in many sectors with good understanding of the specific industry segment (asset management) and of business. Very practical approach to problems.’

‘Jeremy Davis, partner, is very practical, goal oriented lawyer and a straight shooter in negotiation.’

‘Damian Reichel: Direct, fearless, persuasive, contrarian.’

‘They provide direct personal service from the most expert people in the firm ie partners.’

‘Very commercially minded and customer centric. They can balance the tough advice with a customer friendly approach that helps you feel empowered on critical decision making.’

‘Efficient, cost conscious and good value.’

‘JWS came highly recommended and have proven to be the best company we could have been referred to. Their knowledge and immediate response to our requirements were exemplary. They have implemented crucial elements within our business enabling us to be up to date with current employment law.’

‘Jan Dransfield is highly experienced and expert and provides advice with a legal, commercial and common sense perspective.’

‘Jan Dransfield is approachable, understands clients needs well and is very practical.’

‘Jan Dransfield (Partner) and Erin Wilson (Associate) were professional, efficient, effective and always available at short notice for the urgent matters we had at hand.’

‘Jan Dransfield is always professional with a highly commercial mindset. Erin Wilson – very aligned with Jan in a similar nature.’

‘The firm offers deep Australian energy industry experience and a considerable amount of local market knowledge using their regional offices. They have demonstrated to me that they can draw on specialists from within their organisation when required for specific issues (e.g. project financing, insurance, etc). JWS is responsive and adaptable to client requirements. Their legal advice is never given in isolation of commercial and client necessities but JWS communicates the risks of various approaches well.’

‘Anthony Groom’s strength is his vast energy industry experience and superior knowledge of the relevant legislation and case law. I always feel that we have an advantage over any other lawyers in the room while he is working on a project. Anthony seems indefatigable. The quality of the work never waned and the attention to detail was always excellent. ’

‘The JWS Energy & Resources practice has a real depth of experience and is well balanced and resourced to efficiently handle transactions of any level of complexity while delivering on all client deadlines.’

‘Bruce Adkins and Stuart Clague have a great all-around combination of industry knowledge, M&A prowess, commerciality and technical discipline, which makes them unique in the E&R market. Their commitment and responsiveness to client demands are also exceptional.’

‘Joseph Scarcella is an exceptional lawyer in this practice area.’

‘Advice is provided in a clear and timely fashion.’

‘JWS has built one of the top restructuring and insolvency practices in Australia. Led by Paul Buitendag and Joe Scarcella, their approach is always highly commercial and strategic with a view to thinking any strategy all the way through for their clients. The JWS team has built a stellar reputation in the market working on high-value, complex and contentious restructuring and insolvency matters. Their flexible approach to billing, experience working with liquidators and providers of legal finance and their depth of legal talent make JWS the go-to law firm in this space.’

‘Joe Scarcella is a velvet-coated wrecking ball with an encyclopaedic knowledge of how legal and commercial issues interact in complex restructuring and insolvency matters.’

‘Paul Buitendag is very client focussed and knows how to strike a commercial deal. He is pragmatic and smart.’

‘The JWS IT team provides excellent advice on all types of IT contracts, up to and including major enterprise IT solutions. They act for key players in the market and have deep knowledge from both client and supplier perspectives. They willingly provide alternative fee arrangements and integrate well with our IT systems and processes.’

‘I find the practice to be highly responsive to all requests which is important when turnaround times are usually tight. The team has a good and deep level of experience and has often negotiated with the suppliers before, so this expedites the establishment of positions, which ultimately speeds up the negotiation and execution process.’

‘Ravi de Fonseka really understands our business. He provides excellent advice on transactions of all types, including major enterprise IT projects, and proactively works with us to improve our systems and processes. I have a great deal of trust in him.’

‘The team, especially the partner Ravi de Fonseka are commercially pragmatic, which is really important to me. While the legal review is always thorough and correct, the JWS team know and advise which points to give on. This is important as it expedites negotiations.’

‘Johnson Winter & Slattery has the premier anti-corruption practice in Australia.’

‘Rob Wyld is Australia’s leading expert on anti-corruption issues. He is passionate and thoughtful. His advice is pragmatic and understandable. He is also very personable and clients and co-counsel enjoy working with him.’

‘One of the, if not the leading firm in New South Wales with brilliant and charming lawyers. It remains an immense pleasure to work with and know many of their Partners, each of whom are leaders in their fields.’

‘They are practical in solutions and getting work done.’

‘Carrie Follas is practical and knows the agribusiness industry well.’