What Others Say
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Banking and Finance
Capital Markets
Corporate Advisory/M&A
Competition and Regulation
Dispute Resolution
Energy and Resources
Funds
Intellectual Property
Real Estate and Projects
Restructuring and Insolvency
Tax
TMT + Project Services
2013 Best Lawyers
Twenty five Gilbert + Tobin partners were named in the Best Lawyers Australia list 2013. The survey results derive from peer-to-peer interviews and 25 of Gilbert + Tobin’s partners were recognised as leaders in their field across 24 areas of law.
Six Gilbert + Tobin partners were also listed as Best Lawyers’ 2013 ‘Lawyer of the Year’:
- Dominic Emmett – Sydney Insolvency and Reorganisation Lawyer of the Year
- John Schembri – Sydney Leveraged Buyouts Lawyer of the Year
- Neil Pathak – Melbourne Corporate/Governance Lawyer of the Year
- Peter Cook – Sydney Capital Markets: Equity Lawyer of the Year
- Gina Cass-Gottlieb – Sydney Telecommunications Lawyer of the Year
- Peter Waters – Sydney Regulatory Lawyer of the Year.
Banking and Finance 
From Chambers Asia -Pacific 2013:
““They are a fantastic service provider; we find them approachable and upfront, transparent and straightforward.”
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2012:
Gilbert + Tobin’s Melbourne office strengthened the firm’s national proposition, and houses Nicholas Grambas, an “acknowledged lead lawyer in the project and financing field.” Sydney-based practice head John Schembri, who has “strong business acumen and good industry knowledge.”
From the 2012 edition of IFLR1000:
Gilbert + Tobin is “very knowledgeable, very experienced, and willing to come up with ideas that may be outside the box” and “their advice is always professional, timely and commercial.”
John Schembri, a very “technically sound individual” according to one peer, “who has the ability to make the most complicated matters simple.”
Capital Markets
From the 2012 edition of IFLR1000:
“I generally avoid recommending law firms as I find the level of service can vary greatly from one experience to the next. However I recommended Gilbert + Tobin without hesitation to a number of colleagues and clients as I have enjoyed a consistently high level of service coupled with practical and commercial advice.”
“With the hiring of Peter Cook I see Gilbert + Tobin rising the ladder in the coming years.” Peter Cook has also acted on many of Australia’s largest capital raisings and, as one client says, brings “a wealth of experience and knowledge” to the firm.
From Chambers Asia -Pacific 2012:
“They are very practical, commercially astute and service-oriented.” “I think they punch above their weight – with their depth of experience, they can drive deals but also know when to back off.”
“He [John Williamson-Noble] has a high knowledge base and experience, and is easy to work with, insightful and creative with outcomes.”
“He [Duncan McGrath] is personable, approachable and commercial.”
From Chambers Global 2011:
“Their strongest quality is their knowledge of our company and ability to give commercial advice.” “They can apply their technical excellence commercially to the transactions involved.”
From the 2011 edition of IFLR 1000:
“One client describes the firm’s strengths as its “quality of advice, quality of execution, deep understanding of client activities and needs, ability to deliver within tight deadlines, superior market intelligence, personable service due to the relatively smaller size of the firm, transparency of pricing, and commitment to the relationship.”
Corporate Advisory/M&A
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012:
The experienced and seasoned Peter Cook is appreciated for his “commercial nous” and for providing “excellent, strategic advice.”
Andrew Bullock “is commercial, practical and a good negotiator.”
“Their M&A people are just excellent and they can handle really major transactions.”
The well-respected Andrew Bullock heads the department. He is described as “having great business sense, with a balanced and measured way of understanding things.”
Highly experienced practitioner Peter Cook joined the practice in June 2010. “I like his technical ability and commercial focus – he is able to harness the whole firm with energy and enthusiasm.”
Bryan Pointon “is very commercial and the team is very dedicated; it can really knuckle down and keep going on long, complex deals.”
From the 2012 edition of IFLR1000:
“I find that Gilbert + Tobin is very crisp, organised and professional,” says one client. The firm once again enjoyed another busy year on some of the largest transactions in the Australian M&A market.
“Gilbert + Tobin provides timely and concise advice and for these reasons I would not hesitate to recommend Gilbert + Tobin to other arrangers.”
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2012:
Gilbert + Tobin provides “creative commercially focused solutions.” The firm strengthened its Melbourne presence with the recruitment of Neil Pathak.
Andrew Bullock is “first class”.
Competition and Regulation
Gilbert + Tobin is consistently ranked in the top tier for competition law by Chambers Asia Pacific and Asia Pacific Legal 500.
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2012:
Gilbert + Tobin’s competition team has ‘deep strength at all levels’ and continues to provide merger clearance advice of the ‘highest quality’. 2010 saw the group advise five large Japanese steelmakers on the proposed joint venture between Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton, and advise Telstra on negotiations with the ACCC regarding the NBN project. Luke Woodward is in a ‘league of his own’, and Gina Cass-Gottlieb is an ‘outstanding competition lawyer’ who ‘quickly grasps the nuances of the key issues’.
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012:
“They are generally acknowledged as being amongst the best, if not the best, in the competition law space.” “They are perennial high performers.”
Dispute Resolution
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2012:
Gilbert + Tobin’s absorption of Blakiston & Crabb brought some well-regarded practitioners to the firm. Blakiston & Crabb’s former head of dispute resolution Mark Gerus is recommended for his ‘breadth and depth of knowledge’, and new partner Tim O’Leary is ‘extremely professional and efficient’. The team is defending Google in an action brought by the ACCC regarding its sponsored links AdWords system.
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012:
“They [Gilbert + Tobin's litigation team] have formed an integral partnership with our company and are growing with us.” “We are very pleased with the strong relationship we have with the firm – they have deep knowledge of our organisation which is of great value.”
Energy and Resources
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2011:
“The partners are especially outstanding.” “The quality of the team is very high across the board and it has excellent senior associates.”
Funds
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012:
Adam Laura “has a deep knowledge of current market conditions and trends and takes a balanced, pragmatic and collegial approach to investor negotiations.”
“Their strengths combine good local market knowledge and deep industry expertise.” “They are well respected, understand commercial needs and always deliver professionally.”
Intellectual Property
Our Intellectual Property team is consistently ranked as a top tier practice by Chambers Asia Pacific and Asia Pacific Legal 500.
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2012:
Gilbert + Tobin has branched out from its traditional strength acting for media and entertainment clients, and now acts for clients from a much broader sector base. It is defending Energizer in its Australia Schick razor brand advertising in the Federal Court; and advising Red Bull generally on domain name recovery and enforcement activities against counterfeit goods. Samsung is another client. Michael Williams, Siabon Seet and Lisa Lennon are recommended.
“We are very impressed by the team’s strategic approach, expertise and ability to provide advice on a timely manner.”
From Managing Intellectual Property 2011:
“Gilbert + Tobin’s IP team is consistently engaged in the nation’s most newsworthy cases.”
Real Estate and Projects
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012:
“They understand our requirements, show professionalism and diversity, are responsive and provide a fast turnaround.”
Restructuring and Insolvency
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012:
Satisfied clients report that Dominic Emmett “adds great value at a strategic level, and will not be found just sat in the background processing documents. He is right beside you in the room solving the problem.”
“I have the highest regard for the team, which did an outstanding job on a pioneering and difficult transaction.”
Tax
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2011:
Gilbert + Tobin is “excellent in all facets of service delivery.”
TMT + Project Services
Gilbert + Tobin is consistently ranked in the top tier for telecommunications and information technology law by Chambers Asia Pacific, PLC Which Lawyer and Asia Pacific Legal 500.
The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2012:
‘Tech specialist’ Gilbert + Tobin is a ‘long-time market leader’, and has a substantial client base of blue-chip companies and government departments.
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2012:
“A very strong, well-respected firm with a very commercial, focused approach.” “They put together a great team which is innovative and work with in-house counsel and business partners to deliver results.”
From Chambers Asia-Pacific 2011:
Gilbert + Tobin has had a strong year, benefiting from significant new hires. The team retains prominent clients and is well reputed for its ability to tackle difficult matters. The firm draws on strong international connections, and has completed projects in Europe, the USA, China and many other locations. It is advising Telstra on a range of commercial arrangements to support its offering of cloud services to customers. Other clients include Google, FOXTEL and Universal. Sources say: “They provided fantastic 24/7 support.” “They helped me out with pro bono work.”
