Angelo Mazzone also talks about the biggest matters he's worked on over the past year
Angelo Mazzone had always “felt a strong sense of direction and purpose in the law”, with his father and sister serving as role models for him. Since he embarked on a legal career, the corporate law star has worked with big names like Blackbird, AirTree and Startmate.
Having been mentored through his development as a lawyer, Mazzone also aims to pay it forward by helping to guide LegalVision’s graduates. In the first part of this interview, Mazzone shares a realisation he reached after witnessing the retirement of a mentor, and celebrating a major career milestone.
What made you choose a career in law, and what's your favourite part of the job?
From an early age, I was exposed to the legal profession through my dad and sister, both incredibly hard-working and respected practitioners in their own right. My mum, a vibrant and articulate primary teacher, instilled in me the value of education – which, for any lawyer striving to be at the top of their game, is an endless pursuit. Having developed a deep respect and admiration for the profession from the periphery, together with an endless curiosity to learn, I decided to pursue a career in the law and haven’t looked back! It isn’t lost on me that many people face a daunting existential question when growing up, and even throughout and following their studies: what do I want to do and is this the right career for me? Fortunately, I didn’t grapple with that question for long and have always felt a strong sense of direction and purpose in the law.
The challenge of distilling and applying complex legal principles to real-world scenarios, combined with the need to think critically and strategically at all times, is immensely satisfying. Each client’s needs, objectives, and surrounding circumstances are unique, and being an effective lawyer requires careful analysis, creative problem-solving, and a thorough understanding of both the law and its practical implications. To me, this exercise is intellectually stimulating and is undoubtedly one of the most appealing aspects of the role.
Above all, as a lawyer and trusted advisor, I’m afforded the opportunity to guide clients through pivotal moments in their lives and businesses. In private equity, venture capital and M&A in particular, we often work closely with innovative and courageous founders who start out with little more than an idea that matures into a success story beyond comprehension. Suffice to say, the possibilities are endless and the outcomes can be life-altering. Whether negotiating a complex deal, or providing counsel during periods of turbulence, the ability to tangibly impact someone's life for the better is extremely gratifying.
Ultimately, my decision to pursue law was driven by a desire to contribute meaningfully to society while engaging in a profession that demands the very best of me.
What has been your proudest accomplishment in the last year or so?
I’m tremendously proud of the positive outcomes my colleagues and I have been able to achieve for our clients, across all practice areas of the firm. Recently, and in collaboration with Gilbert + Tobin, our corporate, leasing and franchising teams advised Guzman Y Gomez on its IPO and ASX listing, which was the biggest local float in years and had a considerable impact on trading.
In addition, our team has had the privilege of working and collaborating with leading venture capital funds, such as Blackbird, AirTree and Startmate to name a few. We’ve experienced the satisfaction of assisting countless startups in successful campaigns to scale globally and seize fruitful exit opportunities, often a culmination of years of unwavering devotion from their founding teams and the investors that back them. For example, I recently had the pleasure of advising Leonardo AI on its widely touted $47m raise which attracted investment from domestic and international juggernauts; a testament to the quality of up-and-coming Aussie startups. Working with the next generation of unicorn companies is an exciting prospect!
What’s the biggest lesson you learned in the past year and what advice can you give fellow lawyers about it?
A mentor for whom I am very grateful retired from legal practice earlier this year, which caused me to reflect on how quickly our professional lives come and go. My advice to fellow lawyers, and people generally, is that it’s important to stop and smell the roses from time to time – celebrate your wins!
What are you looking forward to the most in the coming year?
I’m thrilled to be joining the practice leadership at LegalVision as of July of this year, which is an exciting career milestone for me personally. I’m very much looking forward to embarking on the next chapter of my legal career at the firm, and together with my colleagues, continuing to deliver results for our clients.
I also look forward to welcoming, and working with, a new cohort of enthusiastic graduates across the firm. LegalVision has been named one of the best law firms to work for in Australia and a 5-Star Employer of Choice by Australasian Lawyer, in part, due to the training and mentorship that our graduates and junior lawyers receive. I, like so many in our profession, am indebted to all of the mentors who have supported my professional development. Paying that mentorship forward is immensely important to me.
If you weren’t in law, what do you think you’d be doing as a career?
That’s a tough one! Most likely consulting, journalism or public service. I am extroverted by nature and enjoy interacting with people, writing and thinking critically and I believe a career in each of these fields would tick those boxes.
