Ashurst strengthens its mergers and acquisitions practice with double partner hire
07 February 2017
John, who joins the Melbourne office from Clayton Utz, is a corporate law/M&A specialist who has acted on a number of high-profile and complex transactions for local and foreign companies and major investment banks in the Australian market.
Shane is also joining the Melbourne office, from Herbert Smith Freehills. He is an English and Australian qualified lawyer with more than 18 years' experience working with national and international clients on large scale energy, mining and infrastructure projects, as well as associated M&A.
Managing partner, Paul Jenkins, commented: "It is with great pleasure we welcome John and Shane to the Australian M&A team. Ashurst has exceptional global M&A credentials, and we are broadening and deepening our already strong team in Australia. Our M&A, and infrastructure M&A team in particular, compete at the top end of the market, and these partners will further enhance our offering and the market leading results we produce for our clients.
John and Shane will be strengthening our Melbourne M&A practice. Their experience in complex international transactions will be of real benefit to our team there. This team has advised on major multi-jurisdictional matters over the last year, including advising Nippon Life in its A$2.4 billion acquisition of MLC and advising ANZ on the A$8.23 billion sale of its Esanda portfolio to Macquarie Bank. Our Sydney team have also had an outstanding year, advising IFM Investors and AustralianSuper on the A$16.189 billion acquisition of Ausgrid and advising Crown Resorts on a series of agreements in respect of its shareholding in Melco Crown Entertainment, which will generate A$1.9 billion for the company.
These partners will play a key role in contributing to the strength of our practice, working with our practice group lead Mark Stanbridge, to deliver outstanding client results."
Commenting on the appointments, Mark Stanbridge, said: "I am delighted to welcome John and Shane to Ashurst. They will play a key role in contributing to the strength of our top-tier M&A team which is, unlike many of our competitors, a truly national practice."
In addition to the double partner hire, the Ashurst M&A team will also welcome another 10 legal professionals in early 2017, who will further bolster the already strong national team.
Ashurst recently announced the hires of New York infrastructure partner Vincent Casey, who joined from Nixon Peabody; Frankfurt tax partner Martin Bünning, who joined from Jones Day; and Munich-based restructuring partner Christian Knittel who joined from Wellensiek.
