Tag: canberra
Written by John on 18 March 2013.
♦ Moves News ♦ Australia, Canberra
Clayton Utz has appointed Andrew Leece as a partner in its Canberra office, reinforcing its reputation as a market leader in the ACT.
Andrew has significant experience in the areas of regulatory, infrastructure and utilities, including advising Canberra Airport on a number of significant transactions during his three years as its general counsel. Andrew joins Clayton Utz from another large law firm.
Canberra office partner in charge John Carroll said Andrew's appointment further underlined the firm's commitment to its clients to proving them with access to market-leading experience in the ACT.
"Our clients will benefit from Andrew's background and extensive experience acting on major projects in the ACT, as well as his understanding of the regulatory and commercial environment in which they operate."
Written by John on 01 March 2012.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Adelaide, Australia, Brisbane, Canberra, China, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Shanghai, Sydney
Blake Dawson has joined with Ashurst to create a firm under the Ashurst brand comprising 1,700 lawyers and 3,500 staff working across 24 offices, with worldwide revenue of over £550 million. As a result of the combination, Ashurst has gained new offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Jakarta, Melbourne, Perth, Port Moresby, Shanghai and Sydney. This significantly increases Ashurst's resources and its stronghold in the energy & resources, infrastructure and financial services sectors. Charlie Geffen, senior partner of Ashurst said: "Our global team has expertise covering the world's major business sectors and financial centres. This is an exciting step forward for Ashurst in achieving our goal of being among a small group of premier global law firms. This new combination of quality and scale will notably enhance our ability to meet the international needs of our clients." Mary Padbury, chairman of Ashurst in Australia added: "This is very much a coming together of equals that strengthens both firms. Independently we are recognised as leaders in our respective markets and together we can offer clients access to local market expertise and experience, together with seamless international reach and capability. Operating as one team under a global brand will deliver considerable synergies and benefits for our clients and people."
Written by John on 27 February 2012.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Australia, Canberra
Maddocks has today announced the opening of the new Canberra office to service its growing list of Commonwealth clients. This is the third office for the firm who opened its first office in Melbourne over 126 years ago, followed by the establishment of the Sydney office in 2002. Mr Mark Henry, head of the Maddocks Government sector, said the opportunity to open a Maddocks office in the nation’s capital has been planned for some time. "Our move into Canberra reflects our continued and very strong growth nationally, as well as our growing demand from our Commonwealth Government client base. The new office will enable us to serve our Canberra-based clients, and those with an interest in Canberra, with local facilities and specialised local knowledge." The Maddocks Canberra office will be headed by Ms Simonetta Astolfi, who has over 20 years’ experience dealing with high-level, complex public and private sector legal issues. Ms Astolfi will lead a team of lawyers advising Commonwealth clients on regulatory issues, commercial matters and dispute resolution. Mr David Rennick, Maddocks CEO said the firm is delighted to soon be welcoming Ms Astolfi as a significant addition to the Maddocks team. "Simonetta is a clear choice to develop a government practice that will cater to the very specific needs of the Commonwealth, right on its front doorstep," he said. “We believe our firm's focus on government, combined with our commitment to client service and deep client relationships, will enable us to offer a very appealing alternative to existing firms." Mr Rennick, said the Canberra office would be the missing link in the firm’s already strong government practice, adding that close to half of the firm's revenue is currently sourced from the public sector.
Written by John on 15 December 2011.
♦ Breaking BigLaw News ♦ Australia, Canberra
Maddocks will open a new office in Canberra early in the new year to service its growing list of Commonwealth clients. The new office will be headed by Ms Simonetta Astolfi, who has over 20 years’ experience dealing with high-level, complex public and private sector legal issues. Ms Astolfi will lead a team of lawyers advising Commonwealth clients on regulatory issues, commercial matters and dispute resolution. Mr Mark Henry, head of the Maddocks Government sector, said the opportunity to open a Maddocks office in the nation’s capital has been planned for some time. “Maddocks has grown considerably in recent years, particularly since the opening of our Sydney office in 2002. Our Commonwealth practice is expanding rapidly and we are developing a growing reputation as a real alternative to the firms currently operating in Canberra,” he said. Mr David Rennick, Maddocks CEO, said the new office would be the missing link in the firm’s already strong government practice, adding that close to half of the firm's revenue is currently sourced from the public sector. "A cornerstone of Maddocks' strategy is to become a leading provider of legal services to government," Mr Rennick said. “The Commonwealth’s desire to expand the range of firms from which it sources legal services, provides an opportunity for Maddocks to establish a local presence in Canberra." Mr Rennick said the firm is delighted to welcome Ms Astolfi as a significant addition to the Maddocks team. "Simonetta is a clear choice to develop a government practice that will cater to the very specific needs of the Commonwealth, right on its front doorstep," he said. “We believe our firm's focus on government, combined with our commitment to client service and deep client relationships, will enable us to offer a very appealing alternative to existing firms." The Canberra office is expected to open in February 2012.
Written by John on 17 November 2011.
♦ Recent Deals ♦ Australia, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne, New Zealand, Sydney
Mallesons has acted as Australian legal counsel to Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) and ANZ Capel Court Limited in the successful establishment of ANZ's US$20,000,000,000 Global Covered Bond Programme and the inaugural forthcoming issue by ANZ of $US1.25 billion in covered bonds under the programme, which is the first ever issue of covered bonds to be priced and sold by an Australian bank. Covered bonds are dual recourse securities with investors having a claim against the both the issuer and a cover pool of high quality assets held by a special purpose vehicle which guarantees the securities issued by the ADI. The Banking Act 1959 was amended on 17 October 2011 to allow Australian banks and other authorised deposit-taking institutions to issue covered bonds. The Mallesons' team was led by Partners Berkeley Cox and Ian Paterson, Senior Associate Chris Trudinger. It also included Tax Partner David Wood, supported by a team drawn from across the Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney offices, including Senior Associate Stuart Courtney and solicitors Briana Cumming, Jimmy Lau, Emily Zhang, Alice Patterson, Alexandra Hunter and Luke Pallaras. The legal issues in relation to the structure and documentation of the Programme were complex and the Mallesons team worked seamlessly to help ANZ achieve this milestone within a very tight timeframe.