Biography

    John is a partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Corporate Advisory group and has been with the firm since 1995.

    John has advised on transactions which, at the time, were Australia’s largest IPO (Qantas), merger (Westpac and St. George) and private equity deal (KKR’s Brambles deal). He has been recognised as a leading lawyer in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, corporate governance and private equity in a range of industry guides. He regularly advises on corporate governance issues.

    John has recently advised Australian Clinical Labs on its hostile, reverse, scrip takeover bid for Healius Limited to create a $2.2 billion pathology group, United Malt Group in relation to its scheme of arrangement to implement the $2 billion bid from Malteries Soufflet, Calculator Australia in relation to the $3.0 billion de-stapling of Abacus Storage King, Australia’s largest listed renewable energy company on its defence in the contested $1.2 billion takeover, GrainCorp limited on its $3.0 billion demerger, Cardno Limited on its demerger, Coca-Cola Amatil on the joint acquisition (with The Coca-Cola Company) of a 45% equity stake in Made Group and Crescent Capital on the acquisition of CSR’s national Viridian glass business.

    John's publications include The Float Guide, The Company Directors Checklist, The Company Secretary Checklist (for both Listed and Proprietary Companies), The Corporate Governance Implementation Plan, The Institute of Company Directors module on Board Performance and the Australian chapter of LBR’s books - "The Corporate Governance Review" and "The Private Equity Review". He is also Joint Editor of the International Bar Association's Global M+A Guide and Float Guide.

    John is past-Chair of the Corporate and M+A Committee of the International Bar Association (the world’s leading organisation of international lawyers) and a member of the investment committee of the private equity fund, Crescent Capital Partners.

    John is ranked by Chambers Asia Pacific Equity Capital Markets and Private Equity and by IFLR 1000 as a leading lawyer in the area of mergers and acquisitions. Best Lawyers has named John as Sydney Lawyer of the Year for Sydney Financial Institutions. John is also recognised by Best Lawyers as a leading lawyer in Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Corporate/Governance Practice, Equity Capital Markets Law, Private Equity Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Venture Capital Law.

    John’s experience includes:

    Advising on transactions which were, at the time:

    • Australia’s largest merger - the $47 billion merger of Westpac and St. George Bank.
    • Australia’s largest private equity deal - KKR’s acquisition of Brambles Australia.
    • Australia’s largest float - the IPO of Qantas.

    John regularly advises on mergers and acquisition transactions, private equity deals and capital markets issues. He also regularly advises on corporate governance issues. Recent transactions John has advised on include:

    • Australian Clinical Labs on its hostile, reverse, scrip, nil premium takeover bid of Healius – to create Australia’s largest commercial pathology provider and one of the largest in the world with the potential for a further $2.1 billion uplift in the merged group’s equity value.
    • United Malt Group Limited (United Malt) in relation to its scheme of arrangement following the indicative proposal from Malteries Soufflet to acquire all of the ordinary shares on issue in United Malt for an implied equity value of $2 billion.
    • Calculator Australia in relation to the $3.0 billion demerger of Abacus Storage King.
    • Genex Power Limited Australia’s largest listed renewable company, on the approach by Skip Capital Pty Ltd and Stonepeak Partners LP.
    • Norland on the sale of 100% of the shares on issue in Permaconn to Five V Capital.
    • Cardno International Development on the sale of 100% of the shares in Cardno Emerging Markets (Australia) Pty Ltd, Cardno UK Limited and Cardno Emerging Markets USA Ltd.)  to DT Global Australia Pty Ltd.
    • Crescent Capital Partners on its investment in the Green Leaves Group.
    • European Energy Exchange on its acquisition of Lacima.
    • Australian Clinical Labs on its IPO and ASX listing.
    • Velocity Frequent Flyer on the proposed IPO and ASX listing as part of the dual track sales process conducted by Affinity Equity Partners for its approximately 35% interest in Velocity Frequent Flyer.
    • Burnham and Guardian Trust on the $1.3 billion sale of Jandakot Airport. 
    • Infigen Energy on the hostile takeover approach from UAC and the friendly approach from Iberdrola SA, giving Infigen an enterprise value of $1.3 billion.
    • Graincorp on the $3.4 billion demerger of its global malt business.

    John has advised on a wide range of takeovers and negotiated acquisitions of all sizes.  His practice also extends to capital markets work. He has acted on over 30 IPOs and capital raisings for companies and managed funds with a value of over $5 billion.

    John is ranked Band 4 in Private Equity.

    THE LEGAL 500 ASIA-PACIFIC 2022 - 2024

    John is ranked ‘Highly Regarded’ in M&A, Private Equity and Capital Markets.

    IFLR1000 2022

    John was recognised in the Capital Markets and Corporate/M&A. 

    THE LEGAL 500 ASIA PACIFIC 2020

    John was named the Venture Capital Law 'Lawyer of the Year'. 

    Best Lawyers Australia 2019

    John is listed for his work since 2008 in Corporate Law, Corporate/Governance Practice, Equity Capital Markets, Financial Institutions, Leveraged Buyouts, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Equity and Venture Capital Law.

    Best Lawyers Australia