Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9258 6000About
Provided by Ashurst
Department: Corporate/M&A & Private Equity
Partner for this department: John Brewster & Anton Harris
No of employees in department: 175
Ashurst's Corporate / M&A team offers a global reach and a collaborative international network. Our clients benefit from our expertise and offices across all major commercial centres in Australia, the UK, USA, EU and throughout the Middle East. Notably, our Australian lawyers frequently collaborate with teams in Asia on both inbound and outbound transactions.
We operate dedicated global industry teams focusing on five core areas, which correspond to current M&A trends: Banks & Funds, Digital Economy, Energy & Resources, Infrastructure and Real Estate. As a result, we have been involved in some of the biggest M&A transactions across these key industries and others. Our team is proud to have been the trusted legal adviser on a number of landmark transactions in the Australian market.
We are known for executing complex, big ticket private equity transactions. We have played a key role on the largest, most significant and complex deals in the market.
Chambers Review
The Ashurst corporate and M&A team represents the Australian arm of a global corporate practice that is respected for its proven track record in the handling of large-scale transactions for household-name multinationals. The team regularly advises leading private equity houses and financial institutions across a range of issues from initial investments to exits. It is prized for its innovative transaction structures, in-depth knowledge of key industrial and business sectors, and a comprehensive international and regional service which includes a noted focus on China and Japan-related work.
Work Highlights
- Ashurst acted for PAG Asia Capital on its acquisition of KKR's controlling interest in Australian Venue.
- Ashurst advised Twin Ridge, a SPAC listed on the New York Stock Exchange, on the acquisition and take-private of ASX-listed Carbon Revolution.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The firm has proactive and skillful management of the client and a strong understanding of the key commercial issues and risks for the client."
"Our Ashurst team is very practical and solutions-focussed. They are very knowledgeable about what the 'market' is and great advocates for us to achieve the best result."
"We particularly value this team for their commercial acumen and problem-solving abilities, great project management and attention to detail in drafting."
"The firm has proactive and skillful management of the client and a strong understanding of the key commercial issues and risks for the client."
"Our Ashurst team is very practical and solutions-focussed. They are very knowledgeable about what the 'market' is and great advocates for us to achieve the best result."
"We particularly value this team for their commercial acumen and problem-solving abilities, great project management and attention to detail in drafting."
Notable Practitioners
Garry Besson is a hugely respected, Sydney-based senior adviser who continues to provide insights drawn from his years of experience in the corporate space to clients engaged in high-profile transactions and reorganisations.
Neil Pathak heads Ashurst's Australian corporate and M&A offering from the firm's Melbourne office and is an experienced handler of multi-billion dollar takeovers and other acquisitions.
"In Australia, he is a really strong technical and commercial M&A lawyer."
"He is a top-shelf lawyer with excellent commercial and legal judgement. He's very personable, pragmatic, user-friendly with very strong commercial judgement that is well-liked by his clients."
"Neil Pathak is an excellent senior advisor and counsellor who is much more than a lawyer."
Philip Breden regularly advises on multibillion-dollar transactions for major ASX-listed and international clients across a variety of industries, including the construction, energy and manufacturing spheres. He is based in Ashurst's Sydney office.
"Phil is very responsive, very commercial and very measured in his advice. There are times when it is easy to get caught up in emotion, but he does not fall into that trap."
"He is thoughtful, commercial and practical while working his way through many difficult challenges."
Greg Golding, based in Sydney, offers long experience of involvement in some of Australia's most noteworthy transactions, maintaining a specialisation in the oversight of listed company takeovers.
Mark Stanbridge is based in Sydney and operates across the corporate and M&A spectrum, devoting a significant part of his practice to private equity work, acting frequently both for leading players in this sector and for household-name companies and financial services providers.
Anton Harris maintains a busy M&A practice across an impressive range of business sectors, acting for players from sectors as diverse as those of finance, healthcare, integrated services and retail. He is co-head of the Ashurst corporate/M&A group in Australia.
"He is always up-to-date with key commercial issues and can apply legal advice to solve our most complex issues. He is extremely responsive and always makes us feel we are getting his full attention."
"Anton Harris is an absolute gun. He delivers everything we ask for. He's fantastic."
John Brewster is co-head of Ashurst's Australian corporate/M&A team and is well-versed in advising on major public M&A matters and private equity transactions, as well as corporate reorganisations.
"He is professional, proactive and provides end-to-end service. He provides good advice and detailed, technical work. A complete and excellent package."
"I find him very easy to talk to. He's very commercial, thinks outside the box, has exceptional capabilities and is tenacious."
Stuart Dullard demonstrates a strong track record of advising private equity clients on venture capital investments, evidenced by his role as head of the Ashurst venture capital practice from his base in Sydney.
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