MinterEllison
 | |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
|---|---|
| No. of offices | 15 |
| No. of attorneys | 190+ partners, 600 lawyers |
| Key people |
Bruce Cowley, Chairman Tony Harrington, Chief Executive Partner |
| Revenue | A$428 million (2014/2015) |
| Date founded | 1827 |
| Company type | Partnership |
| Website | |
| www.minterellison.com | |
MinterEllison is a multinational professional services firm based in Australia. The firm has offices in five countries and 15 cities, including in every Australian capital city, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Ulaanbaatar.[1] By number of lawyers it is the largest provider of legal services in Australia.[2]
For the 2014/2015 financial year, MinterEllison acted on a large number of M&A transactions with a total deal value of A$30 billion as well as A$34 billion worth of infrastructure projects during the year. It also advised 70 per cent of the ASX 50 companies, a group that represents the large-cap component of the Australian stock market.[3]
Formerly known as Minter Ellison Lawyers, MinterEllison was a member of the Big Six leading Australian law firms before that term was superseded by a series of international law firm mergers.[4] In March 2015, MinterEllison dropped "lawyers" from its name, announcing that it would pursue growth with a strategy of diversification into project management, consulting and other professional services. Chief Executive Tony Harrington told the Australian Financial Review that the change in branding and strategy is the firm adapting to "phenomenal change in the market: change that encompasses technology-driven standardised products, increased in-house capacity at clients, and ever-consolidating larger businesses."[5] MinterEllison is aiming for substantial growth, planning to increase revenue from roughly A$400 million to around A$600 million by 2020.[6]
History
MinterEllison's origins can be traced back to 1827, when Frederick Wright Unwin was admitted to practice in New South Wales. Its first international office was opened in London in 1974, and its roots in China date back to the 1980s, when it was part of the Beijing Interjura consultancy (1987-1993) and though a co-operation agreement with Great Wall Law Firm (the law firm of China's Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade) signed in 1990.
In 1987, Ellison Hewison & Whitehead merged with Gillott, Moir & Winneke and with Minter Simpson & Co Ellison to become Minter Ellison.[7]
In 1992, Minter Ellison and Morris Fletcher & Cross merged to become Minter Ellison Morris Fletcher and in 1995, the firm officially becomes known as Minter Ellison. In 2000, the Canberra office merged with Deacon Graham & James.
The firm established offices in Hong Kong in 2000, Shanghai in 2001, Beijing in 2010, and Ulaanbaatar in 2012.
On 1 September 2001 the New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington) law firm of Rudd Watts & Stone changed its name to Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (this firm is a member of the MinterEllison Legal Group and as an 'associated' firm does not form part of the integrated MinterEllison partnership.)
Operations
Practice areas
MinterEllison's key areas of practice are:[8]
- Banking and Finance
- Capital markets
- Competition/antitrust
- Environment and Planning
- Corporate/mergers and acquistisions (M&A)
- Dispute resolution, arbitration, and litigation
- Employment law and employee relations
- Energy and natural resources
- Native title
- Infrastructure and construction
- Insurance
- Intellectual property, trademarks and patents
- International trade/WTO
- Projects and project finance
- Real estate
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Superannuation and pensions
- Tax
- Technology, media and telecommunication
Pro bono
More than 75 per cent of MinterEllison’s lawyers engaged in pro bono work in the 2014/2015 financial year, with a total of 30,000 hours completed.[9]
MinterEllison provides pro bono legal assistance through bodies including Justice Connect, QPILCH, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, ACT Pro Bono Clearing House and the Law Society of Western Australia.[10] It also participates in the New South Wales Expert Advice Exchange,[11] and a number of social enterprises including the Mwembe Foundation, the FOCUS women's leadership program and the Third Link Growth Fund.[12]
News and blogs associated with MinterEllison
Innovative office spaces
In 2015, MinterEllison moved into new premises at the Governor Macquarie Tower in Sydney. The new offices are designed to be an open and collaborative environment, with a variety of purpose designed spaces. Innovations include electronic "sit to stand" settings on desks and a community workspace including several collaboration zones. Similar redesigns are planned for Perth, Brisbane and Canberra and Melbourne.[13][14]
Recognition
'Top Tier'
MinterEllison and its lawyers are highly ranked in legal directories such as Chambers Asia Pacific and The Legal 500: Asia Pacific in jurisdictions in which the firm operates – Australia, China and Mongolia. The firm has the second highest number of ranked practice areas of any law firm in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016,[15] and a Lawyers Weekly survey of Australian lawyers found that MinterEllison is in the top three most sought-after legal employers in Australia.[16]
Practice areas where the firm has achieved Top Tier status include Banking & Finance: Property Finance, Government, International Trade / WTO, Insurance, Investment Funds, Restructuring and Insolvency, and Technology, Media & Telecommunications.[17]
Recent awards
Recent awards won by MinterEllison include:
- 'Winner: Innovation in Use of Technology' at the 2015 Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2015.[18]
- 'Insurance Law Firm of the Year' for the fourth consecutive year at the 2015 Australian Banking and Finance Insurance Awards.[19][20]
- 'Employer of Choice' receiving the silver medal in the 2015 Australasian Lawyer Employer of Choice survey.[21]
- 'Legal Advisor of the Year' in Energy, Projects & Infrastructure at the 2013 China Business Law Awards.[22]
- 'Excellence in Client Service' at the 2014 Chambers Asia Pacific Awards for Excellence.[23]
Significant legal work
MinterEllison is one of the top five law firms in Australia for M&A advisory activity in 2015.[24] MinterEllison is known for its work in high-profile mergers and acquisitions, including the long-term leasing by the Government of New South Wales of the ports of Newcastle, Botany and Kembla;[25] the A$1.14 billion joint takeover of Aquila Resources Limited[26] by Boasteel Resources Australia Pty Ltd and Aurizon Operations Limited; and the sale by Lloyds Banking Group plc[27] of its Australian asset finance business, Capital Finance Australia Ltd (CFAL), and its corporate loan portfolio, BOS International Australia Ltd (BOSI), to Westpac Banking Corporation for approximately A$1.55 billion in total.
Associated firm in New Zealand
- Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (in New Zealand)
References
- ↑ http://www.minterellison.com/offices. Retrieved 6 July 2015
- ↑ "Australian independent Minter Ellison returns to growth with 2 per cent turnover rise | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ↑ "Australian independent Minter Ellison returns to growth with 2 per cent turnover rise | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ↑ ALB. (2010.) ALB30 Australasia's largest firms.
- ↑ "Minter Ellison multiplies beyond lawyers | Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Minter Ellison multiplies beyond lawyers | Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Philip Simpson: Land was the calling of a highflying lawyer". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 21 April 2008.
- ↑ New South Wales Young Lawyers and the National Pro Bono Resource Centre. (2008.) Pro Bono Practices: A guide to the pro bono practices of NSW’s largest law firms, New South Wales Young Lawyers and the National Pro Bono Resource Centre.
- ↑ "Minter Ellison revenue up despite ‘patchy market conditions’ | Lawyers Weekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
- ↑ "Annual Report FY2014 | Minter Ellison" (PDF). minterellison.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Law firms sign onto pro bono one-stop-shop | Australasian Lawyer". australasianlawyer.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Annual Report FY2014 | Minter Ellison". minterellison.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Hearsay: Minters trendy move | Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Firm moves to newly minted offices | LawyersWeekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Top legal firms widen gap with the rest | The Australian". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ↑ "Exclusive: top 25 attraction firms revealed | Lawyers Weekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ↑ See http://www.chambersandpartners.com/guide/asia/8/23/1 and http://www.legal500.com/c/australia.
- ↑ "FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2015 | FT". live.ft.com. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
- ↑ "BT takes top prize at Insurance Awards | Australian Banking & Finance". AB+F. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "Minter Ellison is named ‘Insurance Law Firm of the Year 2014’ at AB F Insurance Awards | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Top Aussie legal employers revealed | Australasian Lawyer". australiasianlawyer.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
- ↑ "China Business Law recognises Minter Ellison for energy, projects and infrastructure work | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "Client Service Award Australia | Chambers & Partners". chambersandpartners.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
- ↑ "International firms dominate M&A in Australasia | Lawyers Weekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
- ↑ See 'Port of Newcastle winners tabled $1.75bn knockout bid', AFR, 1 May 2014; ' $3bn expected as Port Botany bids reviewed by lawyers', AFR, 9 April 2013
- ↑ Announcement by Aquila Resources to The Australian Stock Exchange, 5 May 2014.
- ↑ See 'Minters, Freehills, advise on Lloyds deal', Lawyers Weekly, 11 June 2012.
External links
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