Freehills' work in the financial services sector awarded at FinanceAsia and INSTO Distinction Awards
12 February 2007Freehills' high quality work in the Australian financial services sector for 2006–07 was acknowledged last week when the firm was awarded Best Financial Law Firm by FinanceAsia magazine and Law Firm of the Year by INSTO magazine.
The Best Financial Law Firm Award was announced on 6 February at FinanceAsia’s fourth annual Australasian Achievement Awards dinner held at Sydney’s Park Hyatt. The award was accepted on behalf of the firm by Freehills’ managing partner, Peter Butler.
The following night, Freehills was awarded Law Firm of the Year at the banking and finance industry’s pre-eminent annual event, the INSTO Distinction Awards, held at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney. Freehills’ CEO and managing partner, Gavin Bell accepted the prestigious award on behalf of the firm.
Both premier awards events recognise the achievements and successes of Australia’s major commercial banks, investment banks, corporates, stockbrokers, law firms and other key industry participants.
In response to the success Freehills has enjoyed over the past twelve months, Gavin said the recognition was important because it reinforces Freehills’ commitment to delivering exceptional outcomes for the firm’s clients and people.
'We don’t win these awards because of the efforts of any individual, group or department. We win them because of the commitment to excellence, professionalism and dedication of the firm as a whole.'
Gavin said the results are attributable to the firm’s continued number one position in the competitive legal market for mergers and acquisitions, coupled with key roles the firm has played in the most important transactions in the past year.
Freehills acted on most of the landmark deals announced during 2006, including CEMEX’s takeover bid for Rinker Group; Suncorp Metway’s merger with Promina Group; John Fairfax Holdings’ proposed merger with Rural Press; Svitzerwijsmuller’s proposed acquisition of Adsteam Marine; Peabody’s acquisition of Excel Coal; Orica’s acquisition of Minova; and Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund and Utilities Trust of Australia’s acquisition of South-East Water.
Key private equity transactions announced in 2006 in which Freehills has played a lead advisory role include the Airline Partners of Australia consortium’s bid for Qantas, KKR’s joint venture with Seven Network; CVC Asia Pacific’s acquisition of DCA Group; Newbridge Capital’s acquisition of 60 Myer stores around Australia; and Archer Capital’s bid for Rebel Sport.
For more information please contact
+61 3 9288 1119