Peter Cook

Partner
Sydney

Biography

Peter is a partner in our Corporate Advisory group.

With more than 30 years of experience, Peter has built a diverse, industry-leading practice that sets a benchmark for many in the field. He is one of Australia’s most prominent and leading transactional lawyers trusted with handling many of Australia’s largest and most intricate transactions

Peter’s practice, albeit broad ranging, is focused on public and private mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and private capital. He is also widely regarded as a strategic and trusted adviser by his clients and public company boards given his breadth of experience.

Experience

Peter’s selected recent experience includes advising:

  • APM Human Services International on the $1.3 billion take private proposal by Madison Dearborn Partners by scheme of arrangement.

  • Bain Capital and Virgin Australia on various strategic initiatives in connection with Virgin, including the sale of Bain’s 25% holding to Qatar airways.

  • TPG Capital in relation to its $1.8 billion acquisition of InvoCare via a scheme of arrangement.

  • Fanatics Betting and Gaming (FBG) on its US$225 million acquisition of the US arm of ASX-listed PointsBet.

  • PwC on the sale of its government consulting business Scyne Advisory to Allegro Funds.

  • Thoma Bravo on its $1.055 billion acquisition of Nearmap by way of a scheme of arrangement.

  • The Carlyle Group on its $2 billion sale of iNova Pharmaceuticals to TPG Capital.

  • Anchorage Capital Partners on the $425 million sale of Rail First Asset Management (“Rail First”) to a consortium comprising Amber Infrastructure and DIF Capital Partners.

  • K1 Investment Management on its $486 million acquisition of ELMO Software Limited (ASX: ELO) by way of scheme of arrangement.

  • Afterpay on the $39 billion acquisition of Afterpay by Square, Inc by way of an all-scrip scheme of arrangement. This was the largest public M&A deal in Australia’s history and the largest cross border fintech deal globally.

  • Five V Capital on its investment in Australian cyber technology business Penten.

  • Quadrant Private Equity on its $650 million acquisition of childcare operator Affinity Education from Anchorage Capital.

  • APM Human Services International on its $972m IPO and listing on the ASX, valuing the business at $3 billion.

  • Pepper Money (backed by KKR) on its $500 million IPO and listing on the ASX, valuing the business at $1.3 billion.

  • KKR on its acquisition of a 55% interest in Colonial First State (CFS) and establishment of a joint venture with Commonwealth Bank of Australia, with the transaction valuing CFS at $3.4 billion.

  • TPG Capital on its $1 billion acquisition of Greencross Limited and the bolt-on acquisition of the country's largest veterinary specialist and emergency pet care group, Animal Referral Hospital.

  • KKR on its $2.1 billion takeover of MYOB Limited.

  • Harbour Energy on its $14.4 billion bid for Santos Limited.

  • Beach Energy on its $1.58 billion acquisition of Lattice Energy and related capital raising.

Awards and Recognition

  • Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024 - 2025

    Band 1 – Corporate M&A, Private Equity, Capital Markets - Equity

  • The Best Lawyers in Australia 2025

    Private Equity Lawyer of the Year

  • Chambers Global 2024

    Band 1 - Capital Markets - Equity, Corporate M&A

  • IFLR1000 2024

    Market Leader in Capital Markets: Equity, Private Equity, M&A

  • IFLR1000 2023

    Market leader in M&A, Capital Markets – Equity and Private Equity

  • The Legal 500 2023

    Leading lawyer for Corporate/M&A and Capital Markets – Equity

  • The Legal 500 2023

    Leading lawyer for Corporate/M&A and Capital Markets – Equity

Testimonials

Client first thinking

Peter is a doyen of the sector, his judgement and experience are unparalleled. He is the one you want to navigate through hard decisions.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

A highly regarded adviser on the most sophisticated transactions in both the public M&A and private equity spheres.

Chambers Asia Pacific 2022

One of the top lawyers in the market. He has excellent commercial judgement and is well connected and trusted.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020

Across all the deals, super active and very commercial.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2020

The best corporate M&A lawyer in town.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019

Commercially minded and likeable with one of the best minds for ECM.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019

His mere presence aids negotiations and speeds up transactions.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019

He is extremely commercially aware, a great co-ordinator and his client service is second to none.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019
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