Service

Banking and Finance

The right capital structure can define a deal’s success. With a depth of global and local debt markets expertise, we can anticipate and mitigate legal and commercial issues before they arise.

How we can help

Our Banking and Finance lawyers share unrivalled experience advising on major domestic and cross-border transactions and many have practiced in Europe, Asia, the United States or in house with our clients. Our strong relationships with global investment banks provide us with a broader perspective on what’s required and we are one of the few firms in Australia that act as counsel for all four major trading banks.

Services

We work with lenders, borrowers and sponsors, collaborating with our Corporate Advisory team on major M&A deals. Our expertise in debt and equity financing ensures seamless transactions and pragmatic and innovative advice for financial restructuring or insolvency.

Acquisition and leveraged finance

We advise on the debt aspects of corporate mergers and acquisitions, as well as leveraged and management buyouts.

Corporate finance

We advise on investment-grade IPO facilities, transactional, working capital, term debt, asset finance and leasing and trade finance facilities.

Distressed debt

We advise on all aspects of distressed debt, including restructuring, refinancing, insolvency proceedings and asset recovery, ensuring strategic solutions that maximise value and manage risk.

Project finance

We advise on all aspects of project finance, including structuring, financing and negotiating multi-faceted transactions, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget.

Real estate finance

We advise on real estate financings across all asset classes, including bilateral, syndicated, club, REIT, joint venture and mezzanine transactions.

Sustainable finance

We advise on Australian sustainability linked loans, green and social debt, sustainability frameworks and developing green deposits and other innovative green products.

Banking and Finance experience

Sigma Healthcare

On the financing of the ground breaking $8 billion merger with Chemist Warehouse Group to create a leading ASX-listed wholesaler, distributor, and retail pharmacy franchisor.

Bain Capital

On the financing of its $959 million acquisition and take private of Estia Health.

Pacific Equity Partners

As lead banking legal counsel on the acquisition of healthcare operator Healthia by way of scheme of arrangement for an enterprise value of $360 million.

Financial institutions including Morgan Stanley and Citibank

On the $350 million acquisition financing for Blackstone in relation to StudentOne (3 Student Accommodation assets in Brisbane, Australia).

Blackstone Lenders

On the acquisition facilities to finance the $8.9 billion acquisition of the shares in the Crown Group by way of scheme of arrangement.

Viva Energy Group

On its US$1 billion refinancing of corporate debt facilities and $1.15 billion acquisition of OTR Group.

Financial institutions

On Brookfield’s $1.45 billion refinancing of Aveo Group’s corporate debt.

Financial institutions, including Westpac and Barclays

On the $450 million refinancing of The Star Entertainment Group’s debt facilities.

Alinta Energy

On its $1.3 billion refinancing of its debt facilities.

RØDE Microphone

On the global refinance of its debt facilities and its acquisition of Mackie.

Goldman Sachs

On its $1.1 billion refinancing of TEG’s debt facilities.

APM

On the $1.14 billion social loan linked corporate facilities provided to APM - the first of their kind in the Australian market.

Nomura

On all aspects of its bid for the Gippsland Secured Investments non-performing loan portfolio valued at over $100 million.

An investment fund

On the acquisition of multiple debt tranches of a property development company, including negotiation of intercreditor arrangements and debt and security restructure.

Hilco

On acquiring Wittner Group’s secured debt, followed by finance and corporate restructuring, including a newco, equity, debt facilities and new corporate governance arrangements.

Macquarie

On all aspects of its bid for BOSI's $2 billion non-performing loan portfolio disposal.

Bluewaters

For the senior lender syndicate regarding certain secured facilities provided to Bluewaters for the coal-fired power station that Bluewaters owns and operates.

Deutsche Bank

On successful bid and purchase of a $240 million distressed loan portfolio.

Financial Institutions

On EIG’s joint bid with Brookfield for Origin Energy. This gained extensive media attention, dubbed the “400-day takeover of the decade”.

Syndicate of lenders

On the $950 million refinancing of Port of Newcastle’s syndicated debt facilities, including a new innovative ‘green loan’ and ‘sustainability linked loan’ structure.

A global banking syndicate

For the Destination Brisbane Consortium in a role that secured $1.6 billion in debt funding for the Queen’s Wharf Brisbane integrated resort development.

Housing Australia

On all aspects of the financing for three bidders in connection with the Ground Lease Model 2 PPP (VIC) and loans to various Community Housing Providers for development of social and affordable housing and related infrastructure.

Perth Airport

On the $950 million refinancing of the debt facilities of Perth Airport.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

On various syndicated, bilateral, capex and working capital facilities to Ausgrid and Transgrid.

Peregrine Corporation

On the successful $1.15 billion sale of its OTR convenience retail business to Viva Energy and related property financing arrangements involving a network of 200+ fuel supply stations across multiple jurisdictions.

ESR Milestone Logistics Portfolio

The mandated lead arrangers, underwriters and bookrunners to ESR on the ~$3.8 billion acquisition of Milestone Logistics Portfolio from Blackstone (Australia’s largest ever direct real estate acquisition).

AXA Investment Management

On its $300 million strategic partnership with National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation and housing community provider St George Community Housing to develop affordable housing.

Brookfield

On its $262 million green loan refinancing of its stake in the office tower at 388 George Street, Sydney.

Blackstone A-Core Fund

The mandated lead arrangers, underwriters and bookrunners to Blackstone on the $1.45 billion green loan financing for their Australian Core Property portfolio of 84 Australian logistics properties.

GIC

On the $750 million refinancing of existing debt for Chifley Tower Trust, which owns 2 Chifley Square and oversees the Chifley South Tower construction facilities.

AirTrunk

The mandated lead arrangers, underwriters and bookrunners on the $4.6 billion sustainability linked loan to AirTrunk, the largest SLL in the Australian market and the largest data centre SLL in the global market.

Lendlease Melbourne Quarter Tower

On the $385 million green loan facility for the Melbourne Quarter Tower building in Docklands, Melbourne.

Prove Investments

On its prepaid forward structures to build a scalable ACCU financing platform.

Brookfield DCI Data Centres

On its $300 million refinancing of DCI’s existing facilities as a green loan and a sustainability linked loan.

Carbon Link

On the funding of its prepaid forward facilities to landowners building ACCU generation capacity.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

On structuring and advising on carbon market derivatives and ACCU financing involving secured prepayment structures.

Awards

Deal of the Year for AirTrunk Global Sustainability-Linked Loan Financing

IFLR APAC Awards 2024

Band 1 in Acquisition and Corporate Finance

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025

Recognised for Project Finance

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2025

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Key Contacts

People who perform

Upholding standards, pushing boundaries

John Schembri

Partner
Sydney

Gail Christopher

Partner
Sydney

Trish Chapman

Partner
Perth

Stuart Cormack

Partner
Sydney

Simon Lynch

Partner
Melbourne

Dom McGreal

Partner
Perth

Spiro Papadolias

Partner
Sydney

Robert Trowbridge

Partner
Sydney