M&A Lawyers - SA
Populated with a small and ever diminishing list of larger corporate head offices, South Australia's M&A market remains fuelled by an emerging resources sector and the succession plans of a host of established private companies. A breakdown of the South Australian market as to deal value and the firms best placed to handle larger/smaller deals would appear somewhat unnecessary as the vast majority of local M&A transactions fall between $5-$50 million. Deals over $250 million are rare and, much to the chagrin of local lawyers, the state's larger corporates such as Santos, Elders and even the South Australian government have increasingly looked towards instructing top-tier lawyers in Sydney and Melbourne on larger deals.
Locally, perhaps only Johnson Winter & Slattery appear to have truly straddled and overcome the mid-market hurdle. Certainly the firm's ability to lure respected practitioners within its East Coast locales has helped but the consistent efforts of John Keeves and the firm's Managing Partner, Peter Slattery place it atop the market.
Amongst other leading firms Minter Ellison continue to gain a fair share of deals due to a well positioned local and national private equity practice. The likes of Kelly & Co, Thomsons Lawyers and Piper Alderman all boast leading practitioners and, in the case of the latter two, national networks but under-strength East Coast representation places emerging beyond the mid-market a step too far. But, in South Australia the mid-market isn't such a bad destination, activity remains relatively constant and the pool of experienced, potential advisors is relatively small.
Leading Lawyers
Preeminent
Gerry Cawson – Minter Ellison
John Keeves – Johnson Winter & Slattery
Leading
Lee Dewhirst – Thomsons Lawyers
James Dickson – Piper Alderman
John Kain – Kain Corporate & Commercial Lawyers
Jamie Restas – Kelly & Co
Loretta Reynolds – Thomsons Lawyers
Dan Marks – Minter Ellison
Recommended
Richard Beissell – Cowell Clarke
David Davies – Fisher Jeffries
Kent Gray – Minter Ellison
Dan Marks – Minter Ellison
Larry Opie – O'Loughlins
Peter Slattery – Johnson Winter & Slattery
Brett Thorneycroft – Fox Tucker Lawyers
A further and more detailed list of leading M&A firms can be found under each of our state based listings.
Please click through to see the our listing of SA's leading M&A firms...>>
Please click through to see the our listing of Australia's leading women lawyers practising within the area of M&A...>>
Please click through to see the our listing of Australia's leading Rising Stars in the area of M&A...>> |
