Melbourne

The banking and finance team at K&L Gates acts for a range of clients including major domestic banks, alternative lenders, debt funds, professional trustees, sponsors and corporates. The key strength of the team is in complex mid-market real estate finance transactions. Jason Opperman heads up the national finance practice from Sydney, and Melbourne-based Alan Maclean is active in property finance in Victoria. In a major hire, Richard Hayes joined the Sydney office from Hogan Lovells in September 2020.

K&L Gates has a full-service corporate offering, encompassing advice to boards and governance issues, corporate M&A, and private equity investments, with a range of sector specialisms across the firm's Australian offices including agribusiness, healthcare, venture capital, and sports. James Clyne joined the Perth office from Allens in late 2019, bringing a broad M&A practice in a variety of sectors including energy and commodities. Harry Kingsley joined the Melbourne office from Holding Redlich in early 2020 and specialises in financial services and infrastructure work. Cameron Abbott leads the overall practice in Melbourne, with the highly experienced John Mann another key name in the office. Perth's Adam Levine has a broad practice encompassing natural resources and tech platform deals.

The asset management and investment funds practice at K&L Gates advises clients on a range of work in the FSR space, including regulatory compliance and regulatory reform. Experienced in dealing with the Australian regulators, the practice also regularly advises offshore clients on AFSL and APRA licensing requirements. Melbourne-based team head Jim Bulling has a practice that focuses on areas including financial product disclosure issues, payment systems, and financial product distribution.

K&L Gates  ‘handles IP issues from trade mark registration to copyright litigation with minimum fuss and a lot of good humour’. The Australia IP team is led from Melbourne by global IP co-head Jonathan Feder. Working in conjunction with its colleagues worldwide, the team is routinely involved in commercial licensing and transactional support, brand protection, and general portfolio management. It stands out in particular for its activity in the fashion industry, though the team is also experienced in the areas of technology, sport, and food and beverage. Also recommended in Melbourne is Chris Round, whose recent highlights included several IP-related disputes, strategic IP transactions, and a global rebranding matter.

Headed up by the Newark-based chair of the firm's global employment practice Rosemary Alito, K&L Gates combines experience across broad regulatory and litigation in this space. It is known in particular for its work in a number of sectors including health, education, agriculture, sports and government. Key names in Australia include Nick Ruskin, sports and healthcare sector expert Michaela Moloney, and public sector specialist Peter Lupson (all Melbourne-based).

K&L Gates focuses on projects in the renewable energy sector, greenfields developments, transport, and social infrastructure work. Matters include infrastructure transactions, construction and operations contracts, and distribution agreements, on behalf of constructors, public and private transport companies, and subcontractors. The practice is led from Melbourne by Zac Kerr, who focuses on transport and social infrastructure, with particular expertise in roads, rail, aviation, and public-private-partnership (PPP) agreements, alongside Luke Westmore, a regular advisor on renewable energy projects, including wind and hydro generation and distribution projects. The arrival of Simon Ashworth has bolstered the team's range of expertise and client base.

Equally comfortable with contentious and advisory work in the restructuring and insolvency space, K&L Gates handles complex situations of financial distress for clients across a wide range of industries, while retaining strong links with major Australian banks and government entities. Jason Opperman heads up the team from Sydney, with support from Andrew Chambers and Stephen Hume in Melbourne. In team news, Alex Smith was promoted to partner in Sydney in March 2020; her experience includes in-house roles and secondments at major banks.

Andrew Chambers acts for various clients, including appointees, in contentious insolvencies, and has notable experience in tax-related insolvency matters. According to a client he "is very strong on insolvency litigation" and has "a bedside manner and client service second to none." Another client notes: "He's proactive, there when needed, and provides clear and sound advice."

Australian arm of a global practice, operating from offices both on the East Coast and in Perth, and experienced in both litigation and a variety of alternative dispute resolution disciplines. Acknowledged for its expanding sector coverage, good regional connections and mid-market appeal. Well equipped to handle large, complex, cross-jurisdictional disputes, notably active on mandates generated by the recent rise of shareholder activism in Australia and similarly prominent in the consumer class action space. Also well placed to advise in connection with ASIC investigations, Royal Commissions and other regulatory inquiries.

Full-service, globally integrated IP practice that offers patent attorney service as part of the integrated team. Experience handling a number of Federal Court disputes involving patent, trade marks and registered design infringement claims. Offers expertise in trade mark rebranding, protection strategies and portfolio management. Possesses notable strength within the fashion industry, both locally and internationally, and highly active in the domestic sports sector.