for her work on documenting financial transactions for banks and corporates.
ADELAIDE Thomson Playford Cutlers’ Stephen Lyons had a solid reputation as “one of the top two or three lawyers” in South Australia, especially for front-end banking assessment work. David Gasmith was also highly regarded for his front-end banking assessment work. JWS has acted for clients across the country. Philip Laity had particular expertise in stamp duty and was technically competent. Gordon Radford had the finance and business know-how for the wine and resources industries. Kelly & Co was an Adelaide firm with a range of domestic and offshore capabilities. Lachlan Andrews, Paul Bear and John Brimacombe were the first lawyers clients turned to.
PERTH Jackson McDonald was one of the firms that clients chose for finance, loan and security documentation work. Greg Wheatley, Gregory Boyle, June Bartlett, Rachel Webber and Stephen Doyle were the main people. Blakiston & Crabb had considerable strength in equity raisings. Michael Blakiston, Tony Burton, Marcello cardaci, claire Boyd, Mark Gerus and Julie Athanasoff were mentioned. Cochrane Lishman was another good firm for capital raisings. Justin Harris and Tracey Renshaw were the “equity gurus”. Corrs was a choice for resources finance advisory work. Megan O’Rourke and Philip Wilson did financing for heavy gas & oil projects. Freehills had long-standing clients because its lawyers knew the players and syndicates well enough to help both two sides find satisfactory outcomes. Gemey Visscher, David Walton and Doug Stipanicev took on major project and natural resources financing.
NEW ZEALAND Buddle Findlay was an increasingly popular choice, especially for government clients. Peter Owles headed the team and had a broad practice, encompassing high-end transactional banking, structured finance, securitisation and leveraged finance. Jason Boyes stood out as a “real star performer” for managed funds products, debt capital markets issues, and acquisitions. Gene Turner was capable and practical at developing www.legalbusinessonline.com
documentation. Scott Barker was an expert at insolvency and fraud work. Paul Farrugia was a specialist in banking and acquisition finance. Russell McVeagh’s Geoff Busch was mentioned for his broad skillset in acting on bilateral transactions, syndicated lending, debt matters and capital markets. Guy Lethbridge had a “broad” practice, including debt capital markets, acquisition finance, corporate finance, financial services, regulatory compliance, derivatives and investment products. Prue Flacks had an “extensive” finance practice, with a specialisation in capital markets, acquisition finance and structured finance. John Powell was a “specialist” in insolvency and debt restructurings, asset, project and structured finance, and debt securities issuance. Ross Pennington had international experience and was mentioned for banking and capital markets work. Simpson Grierson’s Andrew Harkness was the first point of call for external financial related advice about debt issues, restrictions around “incidental relationships” and bond issues. Peter Eady was mentioned for bilateral transactions, syndicated lending, debt matters and capital markets. Wayne Brown was good at acquisition or leveraged finance matters. Chapman Tripp’s Michael Anderson was known to act on club deals, lending, debt capital markets and structured finance, among others. John Sproat was chosen for capital markets and syndicated facilities, while both Dermot Ross and Derek Parker were appreciated for their broad skillset. Minter Ellison Rudd Watts’ Tom Fail was mentioned for his work on syndicated lending, debt and capital markets, Michael Langdon for insolvency, property and construction finance, and Kate Lane for corporate and structured finance. Lloyd Kavanagh was the “expert” when it came to managed funds. Mayne Wetherell was considered to be one of the “A-team”, when it came to banking and finance law firms. Dave Wetherell led the pack in New Zealand for all banking and finance work. DLA Phillips Fox’s Michael Bos, Jeremy Steel and nigel Stranaghan all mentioned. Bell Gully’s Mark Freeman was good at securities and commercial law, while Murray King was the “key man”.
leading lawyers PETER OWLES Firm: Buddle Findlay Location: Auckland • Practice areas: banking & finance, capital markets, project & infrastructure financing, structured finance, private equity, securitisation, energy & resources, infrastructure, M&A • Advised Wellington International Airport on bond issues, lenders providing finance to bidders for Kiwi Yellow Pages Group, Pilkington Glass, Blue Star Print Group and Carter Holt Harvey forest assets
BRYAN PAISLEY Firm: Baker & McKenzie Location: Sydney • Practice areas: acquisition finance, private equity • Advised on debt side of Ironbridge-mining services acquisitions (A$200m) and banking and finance aspects of Australian Drilling Solutions’ acquisitions of Colby and Peak Drilling
ASHLEY POKE Firm: Baker & McKenzie Location: Melbourne • Practice areas: acquisition finance, capital markets, private equity, corporate counselling, M&A • Advised on Commonwealth Bank’s A$2bn placement to acquire Bankwest and St Andrews • Membership: Australian Venture Capital Association
MICHAEL RICHES Firm: Clayton Utz Location: Sydney • Practice areas: banking & finance, debt finance, private equity • Acted on project finance for government and infrastructure, particularly transport and PPP projects • At forefront of Australia’s largest private equity LBO and MBO transactions, acting for private equity consortiums and financiers
JOHN SCHEMBRI Firm: Gilbert + Tobin Location: Sydney • Practice areas: structured, project, construction, property, resources, acquisition and leveraged financing • Acted on R&D syndications, lease-tail transactions, financing of asset acquisitions, funding general working capital, syndicated and club loan arrangements
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