Allen & Overy has expanded its Australian operations with the significant addition of one of Australia’s market-leading U.S. securities law practices from U.S. firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
The team will also bolster Allen & Overy’s offering in the region and follows the announcement that U.S. firm Skadden is exiting operations in Australia.
The three-member Skadden team is led by partner Mark Leemen and includes counsel Cécile Baume and associate Matthew Lim.
Mark and the team have advised on six of the 10 largest IPOs in Australia and New Zealand since 2013, and have just advised on the IPO of WiseTech Global, the global logistics software company, which is Australia’s newest AUD1billion technology listing. Mark’s recent clients include Scentre Group, Transurban, Westpac, most of the leading investment banks operating in Australia, and the Commonwealth Department of Finance, which he represented on the Medibank privatisation and IPO.
Jason Denisenko, Sydney managing partner, comments: “Mark’s commitment to remain in the Australian market presented a fantastic opportunity for us. With increasing globalisation we recognise that regional coordination and U.S. expertise will be vital to our clients and that’s why we’re continuing to invest in highly experienced practitioners like Mark and his team.”
Geoff Simpson, Perth Managing Partner, added: “Mark is highly regarded in the Australian market and we are delighted that he and his talented team are joining Allen & Overy. This addition to the team signifies our continued commitment to grow and invest in the region, which is reflected in our recent internal appointments of James Abbott and Goran Galic to the Australian partnership.”
Tony Sparks, Australia capital markets practice lead said: “U.S. securities expertise is a critical component of many of the fundraising transactions that we are involved in and this addition creates a unique integrated capital markets offering to our clients.”
Source: www.allenovery.com
