Sparke Helmore welcomes back banking and finance partner

Sparke Helmore has appointed Andrew Johnston as a partner. He returns to the firm after working for a global firm in Oman.

Johnston, who was previously a senior associate at the Sparke Helmore, has returned to Australia after a stint as a legal director in the banking and project finance team of Addleshaw Goddard. He was also previously with Clayton Utz and legacy Middletons. While in the Middle East, his practice focused on large club and syndicated corporate, project, and real estate financings.

He is an expert in banking and finance with more than 10 years’ experience in addition to his previous work with Barclays and Dresdner Kleinwort Wassertstein in London. His experience includes construction and development finance, project finance, real estate finance, leveraged acquisition finance, corporate finance, restructuring, asset finance, securitisation, debt capital markets, and derivatives, Sparke Helmore said.

He is also an expert in Islamic finance, which the firm said is a rare and valuable commodity in the Australian market.

“I am excited that Andrew has decided to join Sparke Helmore—or should I say rejoin Sparke Helmore, as he was a senior associate with the firm from 2011 to 2016,” said Phillip Salem, national managing partner. “Having someone with Andrew’s sophisticated offshore expertise, combined with his experience working for leading investment banks, is another significant step in enhancing the outstanding solutions and service we offer our banking and finance clients.”

Sparke Helmore also recently expanded its corporate and commercial group with the appointment of partner Sally Weatherstone from Dentons. It also recently boosted its workplace team with the appointment of partner Jackson Inglis from Max Solutions.