The new partners are expected to help grow the global practice from their base in Sydney
White & Case has welcomed former A&O Shearman partners Aaron Kenavan and Jamie Palmer to its M&A partnership in Sydney.
“Australia remains a busy corporate and M&A market. The addition of Aaron and Jamie is an important step in our strategy to build out our M&A team in Australia to ensure we have the team to advise clients on their highest profile and most complex M&A and private equity transactions, as well as providing public company advice”, White & Case global M&A practice head John Reiss said.
The new partners are expected to help grow White & Case’s global M&A practice and the global private equity industry group. Reiss confirmed that in addition to working with the Australia partners, Kenavan and Palmer would collaborate with the broader APAC M&A team, providing guidance to financial sponsors and corporates on investments in and out of Australia.
Kenavan brings over 25 years of experience to the table. His clients have included Australian and global corporates, capital providers and investment banks.
He has worked on listed company takeovers and mergers, share and business acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures and other forms of business collaborations, demergers and capital raisings. He has tackled matters involving the consumer and retail, energy, mining and metals, infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, services and real estate sectors.
Kenavan helped to launch A&O Shearman’s Australian business as a founding partner and was corporate team head.
Private capital expert Palmer has advised private equity funds, infrastructure and pension funds and family offices. In a career spanning over two decades, he has taken on matters in the life sciences and healthcare, renewable energy, industrials, infrastructure and real estate sectors.
He spent nine years as a partner at A&O Shearman.
“The addition of two highly experienced and widely respected M&A partners supports the strategic growth of our global M&A practice in Australia and elsewhere. The new partners will complement our strong project development and finance and financial restructuring and insolvency practices in Australia”, White & Case chair Heather McDevitt said.
Daniel Yeh, who co-leads the firm’s global private equity industry group, added that the APAC region remained a strategic priority for many of the firm’s private capital clients.
“With a renewed focus on diversification of investment strategies and geographic penetration, Australia remains a compelling proposition in conjunction with increasing efforts by Australia-based alternatives investors to strengthen their connections globally”, he said.