Allens - The Who's Who Legal 100 2013

What is the Who's Who Legal 100?

Allens’ M&A practice is top ranking in Australia and the Asia-Pacific region. The firm focuses on quality, innovation and timeliness in order to provide clients with a high quality service. Highlight transactions include advising Rio Tinto on its response to BHP’s $192 billion takeover approach and advising Sanofi-Aventis Australia on the acquisition of the Ostelin brands from Reckitt Benckiser Australia. The firm fields six practitioners to this chapter, three of whom receive additional listings in the corporate governance chapter. Guy Alexander is the national co-head of the M&A and equity capital markets practice and has “enviable experience” in the field having served as a member of the Takeovers Panel since 2004. His recent transactions include advising West Australian Newspapers on the $4.1 billion acquisition of Seven Media Group and associated capital raisings to fund the acquisition. He is also a “trusted” corporate governance adviser. Co-head of the M&A group Jon Webster earns praise for his long-standing experience in the field. Webster is “fiercely intelligent” and a “font of knowledge” on corporate law and securities regulation. Ewen Crouch has a “highly successful practice” in M&A and is “incredibly knowledgeable” in corporate law. Stuart McCulloch is equally well regarded for his capital markets and M&A expertise and is “well versed” in capital raisings, underwritings, takeovers, schemes of arrangement and private company M&A transactions.

Four lawyers feature prominently in the competition chapter including head of the national competition and consumer law group Fiona Crosbie. Crosbie advises on merger clearances, access matters, investigations and disputes and is “highly knowledgeable” across several industries including aviation, financial services, manufacturing, media, retail, resources, telecoms and pharmaceutical. Alongside her in the Sydney office, Carolyn Oddie is singled out for her “intellectual prowess” and advises clients in mergers, alliances, investigations, litigation and regulatory issues including access, advertising and marketing issues.

The firm represents a significant number of clients in the life sciences industry and has built an impressive reputation for its legal, technical and commercial expertise in the area. Allens achieves four listings in the life sciences chapter in the areas of IP and transactional work. Philip Kerr heads the firm’s IP group and is “renowned” for his strong litigation skills. He achieves three listings in the patents, trademarks and life sciences: IP chapters. Kerr is acting for Sanofi in relation to a number of patents in their portfolio, including their biggest-selling product Plavix. Richard Hamer is “exceptionally knowledgeable” in the pharmaceutical, chemical and metallurgical industries and acts for clients in high profile patent cases. He is also a “valued source of advice” on legal issues in the commercialisation of research and development. He appears in both the IP and transactional areas of the life sciences chapter as well as in the patents chapter. Sarah Matheson advises clients on contentious and non-contentious IP matters including validity litigation and licensing. She is “truly superb” according to our sources and is recognised in the life sciences – IP and patents chapters.

Banking and finance are key strengths of the firm. Three of the firm’s practitioners are recommended in the banking and project finance chapters. Project finance “guru” Phillip Cornwell has a “wealth of expertise” in banking and finance and advises on major power, infrastructure and resources projects in the Asia-Pacific region. He is the head of the project finance group and “highly acclaimed” by peers and clients alike. Richard Gordon specialises in advising on acquisition financing and is “particularly good with complex matters” according to one source. His practice encompasses project and infrastructure financing, property financing and debt capital markets. Diccon Loxton is a “creative lawyer with exceptional abilities” in banking and project finance. He is “highly sought after” for advice on corporate, project, structured and takeover financing, domestic and overseas capital markets and derivatives.

Construction is a core focus of the firm and the practice is represented by two leading individuals. With more than 25 years’ experience in construction and engineering law, the “pre-eminent” Michael Hollingdale leads the firm’s practice group. He has acted on some of the largest projects in Western Australia including the Perth to Mandurah railway and Perth Gateway project. Leighton O’Brien receives high praise in both the construction and public procurement chapters and is noted for his significant experience in roads, rail and PPPs.

In 2012, Allens formed an integrated alliance with Linklaters, enabling clients to access lawyers through a network of 39 offices in 28 countries. The two firms have also established joint ventures in Asia and Indonesia to deliver legal advice focused on the energy, resources and infrastructure industries. Through the alliance clients will benefit from the two firms global reach and legal expertise.