Ranking tables

Corporate/M&A | Global

Australia

The Corporate/M&A rankings table below has been designed to provide the most in-depth insights and reviews of the top ranked lawyers and law firms. The firms included in our rankings have been recommended by in-house counsel, other third-party experts and private practice lawyers. Our comprehensive research ensures you have all the information needed when looking to purchase legal services across Australia.

Rankings overview for Departments

S

Senior Statespeople

  1. Garry Besson
    Garry Besson Ashurst24 Years Ranked
  2. Rod HalsteadClayton Utz
  3. Stephen MinnsKing & Wood Mallesons
2

Band 2

  1. Philip Breden Ashurst16 Years Ranked
  2. Sandy Mak Corrs Chambers Westgarth13 Years Ranked
  3. Jason WattsKing & Wood Mallesons
  4. Peter StirlingKing & Wood Mallesons
  5. Rory MoriartyClayton Utz
  6. Vijay CugatiAllens
3

Band 3

  1. Aaron Kenavan
    Aaron Kenavan White & Case LLP15 Years Ranked
  2. Andrew Rich Herbert Smith Freehills4 Years Ranked
  3. Greg Golding
    Greg Golding Ashurst25 Years Ranked
  4. Michael Parshall
    Michael Parshall A&O Shearman17 Years Ranked
  5. Rachael Bassil Gilbert + Tobin13 Years Ranked
  6. Richard Lustig Baker McKenzie15 Years Ranked
  7. Bart Oude-VrielinkMinterEllison
  8. Jeremy LeiblerArnold Bloch Leibler
  9. Meredith PaynterKing & Wood Mallesons
  10. Nicola CharlstonKing & Wood Mallesons
  11. Richard KriedemannAllens
  12. Roger DaviesKing & Wood Mallesons
4

Band 4

  1. Andrew Lumsden Corrs Chambers Westgarth11 Years Ranked
  2. Anton Harris
    Anton Harris Ashurst5 Years Ranked
  3. Benjamin T McLaughlin Baker McKenzie14 Years Ranked
  4. Craig Semple Gilbert + Tobin13 Years Ranked
  5. David Ryan
    David Ryan DLA Piper Australia11 Years Ranked
  6. Derek Pocock Baker McKenzie12 Years Ranked
  7. John Brewster
    John Brewster Ashurst3 Years Ranked
  8. Andrew WalkerClayton Utz
  9. Christopher BlaneAllens
  10. Con BoulougourisMinterEllison
  11. Damian ReichelJohnson Winter Slattery
  12. James RozsaJohnson Winter Slattery
  13. Jeremy BlackshawMinterEllison
  14. Jonathan AlgarClayton Utz
  15. Jonathan WenigArnold Bloch Leibler
  16. Kylie BrownAllens
  17. Oliver TalbotTalbot Sayer
  18. Tim SayerTalbot Sayer
  19. Tony SymonsMills Oakley
5

Band 5

  1. David Clee Clifford Chance2 Years Ranked
  2. Kam Jamshidi Herbert Smith Freehills3 Years Ranked
  3. Karen Evans-Cullen Gilbert + Tobin12 Years Ranked
  4. Mark Stanbridge
    Mark Stanbridge Ashurst19 Years Ranked
  5. Marshall Bromwich Norton Rose Fulbright3 Years Ranked
  6. Tim Gordon Gilbert + Tobin3 Years Ranked
  7. Adrian SmithTalbot Sayer
  8. Christine FleerArnold Bloch Leibler
  9. David SchiavelloThomson Geer
  10. Grant KochMills Oakley
  11. Jackie SolakovskiLander & Rogers
  12. Joseph PaceMinterEllison
  13. Ron SmookerMaddocks
  14. Shaun ClyneMinterEllison
  15. Will HeathKing & Wood Mallesons
U

Up and Coming

  1. Adam Foreman Corrs Chambers Westgarth2 Years Ranked
  2. Jason van GriekenArnold Bloch Leibler

All Departments profiles

1

Band 1

  1. Gilbert + Tobin
    1
    Gilbert + Tobin
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years Ranked

    Gilbert + 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.

  2. Herbert Smith Freehills
    1
    Herbert Smith Freehills
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 1 | 22 Years Ranked

    The 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.

  3. Allens
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 1
  4. King & Wood Mallesons
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 1
2

Band 2

  1. Ashurst
    2
    Ashurst
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 2 | 31 Years Ranked

    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.

  2. Corrs Chambers Westgarth
    2
    Corrs Chambers Westgarth
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 2 | 27 Years Ranked

    Corrs 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.

  3. Clayton Utz
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 2
3

Band 3

  1. A&O Shearman
    3
    A&O Shearman
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 3 | 15 Years Ranked

    A&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.

  2. Baker McKenzie
    3
    Baker McKenzie
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 3 | 30 Years Ranked

    Baker 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.

  3. Arnold Bloch Leibler
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 3
  4. Johnson Winter Slattery
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 3
  5. MinterEllison
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 3
4

Band 4

  1. DLA Piper Australia
    4
    DLA Piper Australia
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 4 | 18 Years Ranked

    DLA 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.

  2. Jones Day
    4
    Jones Day
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 4 | 8 Years Ranked

    Jones 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.

  3. 4
    Norton Rose Fulbright
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 4 | 20 Years Ranked

    As 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.

5

Band 5

  1. Clifford Chance
    5
    Clifford Chance
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 5 | 18 Years Ranked

    The 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.

  2. Hamilton Locke
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 5
  3. Maddocks
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 5
  4. Mills Oakley
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 5
  5. Thomson Geer
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 5
6

Band 6

  1. 6
    Dentons
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 6 | 10 Years Ranked

    This 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.

  2. 6
    Squire Patton Boggs
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 6 | 2 Years Ranked

    The 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.

  3. Lander & Rogers
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 6
  4. McCullough Robertson
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 6
  5. Talbot Sayer
    Corporate/M&A
    2025 | Band 6