Asialaw Profiles
The Guide to the legal markets of the Asia-Pacific

Corrs Chambers Westgarth’s lateral hire of partner Brad Robinson from Mallesons Stephen Jaques, together with Jeremy King’s arrival from Blake Dawson, expands a team that acts for leading banks and corporations. The firm has benefited from the recent growth in restructuring mandates.

A notable highlight last year was advising on a US$498 million transaction involving a large number of syndicate banks, assets and security providers across a number of countries.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth has had another busy year advising clients on how to prevent the misuse of patents and trade marks.

The team acted for British American Tobacco as part of an international team protecting BAT’s IP rights against encroachments likely to occur as a result of planned generic labelling legislation. This international legislation has enormous potential ramifications across a broad range of industries and the team helped BAT to provide protection on its labelling rights.

Another highlight was acting for H Lundbeck A/S in a case relating to the validity of Lundbeck’s patent for Lexapro, a blockbuster anti-depressant patent that was challenged by pharmaceutical companies Alphapharm and Arrow.

Corrs Chambers Westgarth is “very strong in the media and broadcasting sector”, says one client. The team’s work across all forefronts in the communications, media and technology industries is one of the firm’s strengths.

Partner Philip Catania’s handling for some of Australia’s high profile companies is “highly regarded for matters involving IP and IT”, adds another client.

Corrs acted as principal adviser to Southern Cross Media on its successful US$721 million off market takeover bid for Austereo. The takeover enabled Southern Cross Media to dramatically expand its reach in the metropolitan radio markets.

In this transaction, Corrs drafted and negotiated all transaction documents including the implementation deed, pre-bid agreement, bidder’s statement and the debt and equity raising documents.

“I would recommend Corrs Chambers Westgarth as it has skilled lawyers and has assembled a great team for what I require,” says one client.

Last year saw major movement in personnel within the firm. The team saw the departure of partner Dixon Hearder to Baker McKenzie and David Pratley to Minter Ellison. But it hired Stewart Grieve, a tax director from Foster’s Group.

The firm advised Foster’s in the US$11.9 billion demerger of Foster’s Group’s beer and wine businesses. This gave rise to complex structuring issues including in relation to partly-paid shares. Amendments to the dividend provisions of the Corporations Act mid transaction added further complexity.