Squire Patton Boggs > Sydney, Australia > Firm Profile

Squire Patton Boggs > The Legal 500 Rankings

Australia > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 2

Focusing primarily on disputes arising from major projects in the construction and energy sectors, the team at Squire Patton Boggs has a strong reputation in both domestic and international arbitration. Qualified arbitrator Greg Steinepreis is a central figure in the Perth office, while the Sydney-based David Starkoff and Cris Cureton, who works between Sydney and Darwin, are also key names to note. Simon Adams and Caroline Brown are recommended for their work in energy and utilities disputes.

Australia > Energy (transactions and regulatory) Tier 4

Squire Patton Boggs has a rapidly growing national energy and natural resources team, offering a combination of corporate and project experience across the renewables, oil and gas, LNG, minerals, and power sectors. The team also possesses particular expertise in the development, financing, and regulation of power generation projects for simple and combined cycle facilities. Simon Adams regularly assists energy companies with corporate transactions and competition law issues, while Natalie Lonergan supports international companies with corporate arrangements and procurement matters. Hazel Brewer and Michael Gajic have recently joined the team from HFW and MinterEllison, respectively.

Australia > IT and telecoms Tier 4

Squire Patton Boggs provides an end-to-end service for technology projects, fielding a dedicated communications team which provides regulatory and competition advice for a host of entities operating within the sector. The practice is jointly headed up by dual-qualified (Australia and US) Richard W Horton and associate James Konidaris, who both possess key expertise in early stage and venture capital work. Horton is the core of team’s knowledge and experience when it comes to negotiating Silicon Valley technology deals. All named lawyers are based in Sydney.

Australia > Natural resources (transactions and regulatory) Tier 4

The growing multidisciplinary team at Squire Patton Boggs marries expertise in both corporate deals and projects in the oil and gas, minerals, and agribusiness sectors, providing comprehensive support to domestic and international clients on financing, construction, and planning matters, as well as disputes and insolvency proceedings. Simon Adams is involved in major corporate transactions, with a particular focus on infrastructure. The arrival of Hazel Brewer from HFW in September 2021 has enhanced the team’s capabilities in shipping and transport, as well as international trade.

Australia > Real estate Tier 4

The Sydney-based team at Squire Patton Boggs possesses wide-ranging capabilities, encompassing complex structured investments and disposals, leasing matters, and urban development projects. A raft of international clients - including retailers and investors - turn to the 'experienced and knowledgable' Mary Pringle for her capabilities in project development. On the transactional side, key names to note include Michael Swift, who has been central to the team's burgeoning agribusiness workflow.

Australia > Corporate and M&A Tier 5

Squire Patton Boggs is marked out by its credentials in three core areas: its roster of cross-border clients; its advisory capabilities in venture capital, early stage, and technology transactions; and an in-depth knowledge of the energy and resources sector. The majority of the team’s leading practitioners are based in Sydney, where Michael Gajic, Campbell Davidson, Ashley Rose are among the key contacts. The group also has a foothold in Perth, where Tony Chong advises listed and private groups, as well as high-net-worth individuals, on the gamut of corporate issues.

Australia > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 5

The litigation and international dispute resolution teams at Squire Patton Boggs handle a range of disputes for corporate and high-net-worth clients, with particular expertise in the construction and projects, and energy and natural resources sectors. Cris Cureton and David Starkoff are noted practitioners in Sydney, while Caroline Brown and Graeme Slattery are well-regarded figures in Perth. The team was strengthened by the September 2021 hire of Hazel Brewer from HFW and the May 2022 promotions of Rebecca Heath and Melissa Koo to partner, all in the Perth office.

Australia > Labour and employment Tier 5

Praised by clients for its ‘excellent and timely work‘, the labour and employment team at Squire Patton Boggs draws on its strong global and domestic presence to assist a host of clients across a diverse range of sectors, from oil and gas, and mining, to aerospace and entertainment.  Sydney-based Nicola Martin advises clients on issues concerning bullying, discrimination, and workplace harassment, as well as day-to-day employment matters, including restraint of trade queries, recruitment, and global mobility issues. In Perth, Kim Hodge – who joined as partner from McCabes in April 2022 – brings expertise to employment contract disputes and industrial relations. The team is supported in Sydney by senior associate Erin Kidd, who acts for employers before state and federal courts and industrial relations tribunals. Partner Bruno Di Girolami left in January 2022.

Australia > Transport: shipping

Australia > Restructuring and insolvency

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

Squire Patton Boggs  has an energy-focussed arbitration presence in Asia, focussed on its Singapore and Australian offices. Barry Stimpson and Rodman Bundy are the key names in Singapore – Stimpson has a track record in LNG work, while Bundy has a track record of public international law and commercial matters. Further south, David Starkoff in Sydney has investment treaty expertise, in addition to other Australian-based lawyers with construction and energy expertise such as Greg Steinepreis  and Cris Cureton .