Ranking tables
Corporate/M&A | Global
Australia
Rankings overview for Departments
Band 1
- Gilbert + Tobin 22 Years Ranked
- Herbert Smith Freehills 22 Years Ranked
- Allens
- King & Wood Mallesons
Band 2
Band 3
- A&O Shearman 15 Years Ranked
- Baker McKenzie 30 Years Ranked
- Arnold Bloch Leibler
- Johnson Winter Slattery
- MinterEllison
Band 4
Band 5
- Clifford Chance 18 Years Ranked
- Hamilton Locke
- Maddocks
- Mills Oakley
- Thomson Geer
Band 6
- Dentons 10 Years Ranked
- Squire Patton Boggs 2 Years Ranked
- Lander & Rogers
- McCullough Robertson
- Talbot Sayer
Senior Statespeople
- Garry Besson Ashurst24 Years Ranked
- Rod HalsteadClayton Utz
- Stephen MinnsKing & Wood Mallesons
Band 1
- Baden Furphy Herbert Smith Freehills21 Years Ranked
- Costas Condoleon Gilbert + Tobin19 Years Ranked
- Neil Pathak Ashurst14 Years Ranked
- Peter Cook Gilbert + Tobin21 Years Ranked
- Philippa Stone Herbert Smith Freehills25 Years Ranked
- Rebecca Maslen-Stannage Herbert Smith Freehills20 Years Ranked
- Rodd Levy Herbert Smith Freehills23 Years Ranked
- David FriedlanderKing & Wood Mallesons
- Guy AlexanderAllens
- Tom StoryAllens
Band 2
- Philip Breden Ashurst16 Years Ranked
- Sandy Mak Corrs Chambers Westgarth13 Years Ranked
- Jason WattsKing & Wood Mallesons
- Peter StirlingKing & Wood Mallesons
- Rory MoriartyClayton Utz
- Vijay CugatiAllens
Band 3
- Aaron Kenavan White & Case LLP15 Years Ranked
- Andrew Rich Herbert Smith Freehills4 Years Ranked
- Greg Golding Ashurst25 Years Ranked
- Michael Parshall A&O Shearman17 Years Ranked
- Rachael Bassil Gilbert + Tobin13 Years Ranked
- Richard Lustig Baker McKenzie15 Years Ranked
- Bart Oude-VrielinkMinterEllison
- Jeremy LeiblerArnold Bloch Leibler
- Meredith PaynterKing & Wood Mallesons
- Nicola CharlstonKing & Wood Mallesons
- Richard KriedemannAllens
- Roger DaviesKing & Wood Mallesons
Band 4
- Andrew Lumsden Corrs Chambers Westgarth11 Years Ranked
- Anton Harris Ashurst5 Years Ranked
- Benjamin T McLaughlin Baker McKenzie14 Years Ranked
- Craig Semple Gilbert + Tobin13 Years Ranked
- David Ryan DLA Piper Australia11 Years Ranked
- Derek Pocock Baker McKenzie12 Years Ranked
- John Brewster Ashurst3 Years Ranked
- Andrew WalkerClayton Utz
- Christopher BlaneAllens
- Con BoulougourisMinterEllison
- Damian ReichelJohnson Winter Slattery
- James RozsaJohnson Winter Slattery
- Jeremy BlackshawMinterEllison
- Jonathan AlgarClayton Utz
- Jonathan WenigArnold Bloch Leibler
- Kylie BrownAllens
- Oliver TalbotTalbot Sayer
- Tim SayerTalbot Sayer
- Tony SymonsMills Oakley
Band 5
- David Clee Clifford Chance2 Years Ranked
- Kam Jamshidi Herbert Smith Freehills3 Years Ranked
- Karen Evans-Cullen Gilbert + Tobin12 Years Ranked
- Mark Stanbridge Ashurst19 Years Ranked
- Marshall Bromwich Norton Rose Fulbright3 Years Ranked
- Tim Gordon Gilbert + Tobin3 Years Ranked
- Adrian SmithTalbot Sayer
- Christine FleerArnold Bloch Leibler
- David SchiavelloThomson Geer
- Grant KochMills Oakley
- Jackie SolakovskiLander & Rogers
- Joseph PaceMinterEllison
- Ron SmookerMaddocks
- Shaun ClyneMinterEllison
- Will HeathKing & Wood Mallesons
Up and Coming
- Adam Foreman Corrs Chambers Westgarth2 Years Ranked
- Jason van GriekenArnold Bloch Leibler
All Departments profiles
Band 1
1 Gilbert + TobinCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years RankedGilbert + Tobin provides a greatly respected national offering that is noted for combining a breadth of capability with lean, efficient staffing and the ready provision of expertise precisely suited to the matter in hand. The firm handles many of the most complex and significant M&A and takeover deals and is acclaimed for combining pragmatism with a flair for novel solutions and providing a consistent and dedicated service. It is also in high demand by some of the most prominent domestic and international private equity players across the full investment fund life-cycle.
1 Herbert Smith FreehillsCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years RankedThe standout Herbert Smith Freehills practice is renowned for its consistent involvement in many of the most prominent and challenging transactions. The team frequently acts on both major public M&A and private equity transactions and is able to apply debt and capital markets expertise when required. It is noted for its immense depth of resources and longstanding relationships with a variety of top-flight multinationals, and is especially valued for its ability to provide substantial, multi-jurisdictional support at both the regional and global levels. The firm is trusted to coordinate multibillion-dollar divestment and demerger deals for a varied roster of financial, mining, IT and healthcare services clients.
Band 2
2 AshurstCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 2 | 31 Years RankedThe 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.
2 Corrs Chambers WestgarthCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 2 | 27 Years RankedCorrs Chambers Westgarth offers an independent practice with a high cross-border capability, frequently selected to represent multinational clients in significant transactions, especially inbound foreign investments, and particularly well-equipped to tackle China-related mandates. The team acts for domestic and international private equity firms and investee companies on complex transactions and exits. It is noted for its familiarity with such heavily regulated sectors as mining, life sciences and TMT and is prominently active in the hostile takeover sphere and in the representation of alternative capital providers.
Band 3
3 A&O ShearmanCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 15 Years RankedA&O Shearman maintains a well-established practice with a talent for handling complex cross-border transactions, integrating domestic expertise with both a substantial regional presence and the wider global network. The firm acts regularly for renowned multinationals and leading domestic players on multi-jurisdictional transactions and investments, as well as for inbound investors into Australasia, particularly from Asia. It maintains a particularly high profile in the energy and resources, financial services and infrastructure spheres.
3 Baker McKenzieCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 3 | 30 Years RankedBaker McKenzie fields an enviable cross-border capability, frequently attracting blue-chip multinationals in addition to leading Australian public and private sector entities. The team is proficient at providing strategic advice on both the buy and sell sides of cross-border M&A transactions. It provides an integrated multidisciplinary service with noted proficiency in the energy, technology and healthcare sectors, and is regularly praised for its attention to customer service. It frequently acts for state-based pension funds and traditional private equity firms on Asia-wide and US deals as well as on inbound investments.
Band 4
4 DLA Piper AustraliaCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 18 Years RankedDLA Piper maintains a respected practice that is well-placed to advise an international clientele on prominent, multi-jurisdictional matters. The team is valued for its depth of resources and for its venture capital expertise, particularly within the technology sector and disruptive industries. It acts for an impressive list of prominent private equity firms and other private investors, as well as major corporate clients.
4 Jones DayCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 8 Years RankedJones Day's well-regarded Australian arm of its global M&A practice is acknowledged for its profile in the domestic market and prized by clients for access to the firm's international resources. It is notably active on transactions in the energy and natural resources, financial services and technology sectors, and frequently recommended for deals involving US-based participants. It leverages the firm's substantial international footprint to offer cross-border M&A expertise.
4 Norton Rose FulbrightCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 4 | 20 Years RankedAs part of a global practice, the Norton Rose Fulbright team offers a correspondingly high capability for cross-jurisdictional mandates. The team assists clients on substantial transactions and is particularly noted for expertise in the energy and resources, health and pharmaceutical, technology and infrastructure sectors. It also demonstrates experience in private equity matters, with extensive expertise acting for foreign private equity funds on inbound investments and domestic funds on exits through IPOs.
Band 5
5 Clifford ChanceCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 5 | 18 Years RankedThe Clifford Chance team forms the Australian arm of a worldwide network, experienced in the management of high-value, high-profile mandates for market-leading multinationals. It possesses strong expertise in foreign investment regulations for inbound investors and those operating in the global energy and resources sector. The team is further noted for its ability to integrate competition and foreign investment regulatory-related advice into its transactional support service where required. It advises on both public M&A and private equity transactions, and counts prominent private equity firms among its clients.
Band 6
6 DentonsCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 6 | 10 Years RankedThis team is the Australian arm of Dentons' worldwide corporate practice, combining a significant national and regional presence with an ability to coordinate transactions across multiple jurisdictions. The team is highly experienced in the handling of deals in the health, life sciences and energy and resources sectors, and is particularly well placed to advise on matters involving Papua New Guinea.
6 Squire Patton BoggsCorporate/M&A2025 | Band 6 | 2 Years RankedThe Australian arm of Squire Patton Boggs' global practice offers expertise in acquisitions, takeovers and sales for companies and high net worth individuals, catering to Australian and US clients, as well as international clients from the UK, Japan and other jurisdictions. Their client base spans sectors including technology, energy and natural resources and manufacturing.