Ashurst brings in corporate heavyweights in Sydney

Ashurst has strengthened its corporate team in Australia by bringing in two senior lawyers in Sydney.

Greg Golding and Rob Hanley have been appointed as partners by the global firm. Each brings more three decades of experience advising on high-profile and cross-border corporate transactions.

Golding, who left King & Wood Mallesons (KWM) last year after 28 years as a partner to put up his own boutique firm in Sydney, is known for working on several of Australia’s most significant M&A deals. He is a specialist in public M&A and complex corporate transactions.

Hanley, who has advised on a number of high-profile multi-jurisdiction transactions under English and Australian law, is a specialist in private M&A and restructurings. Prior to Ashurst, he was with Seyfarth Shaw. He was also partner-in-charge of KWM London, and managing partner of MinterEllison London.

“Greg is an outstanding lawyer with a first-class reputation, whose long history of acting on substantial public M&A transactions perfectly complements our current team. Rob's broad experience, under both English and Australian law transactions, and significant involvement in private M&A and other corporate, commercial and regulatory matters, make him a perfect fit for us and plays to the firm's traditional areas of strength both in Australia and the UK,” said Phil Breden, who leads Ashurst’s corporate group in Australia.

Breden said that the appointments actively accelerate the development of the firm’s Australian corporate practice.

“The team had its busiest year on record in 2018, advising on landmark transactions such as the Nine/Fairfax merger and Oxford Properties' successful contested takeover of the Investa Office Fund, and we have ambitions to continue to grow the practice in the near future,” he said.

The appointments follow the arrivals of partners Dan Yang in Sydney and Ratha Nabanidham in Brisbane last year.

Golding said that Ashurst has “exceptional global corporate credentials,” with a team that advises on complex and high-profile domestic and international matters.

“The firm provides an outstanding platform and I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute to the growth of its corporate business in Australia and more broadly,” he said.

Hanley said that the “strength and global reach” of the firm’s corporate practice, along with a collaborative approach, collegiate atmosphere, and upwards trajectory, “create a compelling proposition.”

“I look forward to further developing the Australian corporate practice and leveraging my experience, in both the UK and Australia, to help the team capitalise on ever increasing cross-border corporate and transactional opportunities,” he said.