Neil Pathak is a partner, head of M&A (Australia)
Neil has 30 years' experience advising on M&A (with a particular expertise in listed company takeovers and cross-border acquisitions), Takeover Panel matters, equity capital raisings, ASX disclosure, shareholder activism and corporate governance matters. He is a member of the Australian Government's Takeovers Panel (the peer review body that regulates public company M&A and the primary forum for resolving takeover disputes).
Best Lawyers named Neil Melbourne’s M&A, Corporate, Private Equity and/or Equity Capital Markets Lawyer of the Year in 9 of the last 12 years. Neil was named Australian M&A Partner of the Year at the Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards 2020. He is ranked Band 1 in Chambers for M&A.
Neil has expertise in various industries including private equity, foreign investment, mining/resources, energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, chemicals, healthcare, agribusiness, FMCG, retail, gaming, logistics, real estate and technology sectors.
Recent matters on which Neil has advised include:
- OZ Minerals on its $9.6 billion recommended takeover by BHP.
- Wesfarmers proposed acquisition of Skin Laser Clinics by scheme of arrangement.
- UniSuper on its participation as the largest shareholder in the $24 billion takeover of Sydney Airports.
- Capital raisings by Orica, Cleanaway, Syrah Resources and Dexus Industria REIT to fund acquisitions/growth.
- Responses to shareholder activism in respect of a number of ASX100 companies.
Neil also lectures in takeover and securities law at the University of Melbourne Law School where he is a Senior Fellow.