Two highly experienced and BigLaw corporate partners have joined Gadens, and a third will commence later this year.
Clifford Chance founding partner Danny Simmons and former Mills Oakley partner Lynda Reid have joined the ranks at Gadens, along with their team, special counsel Jana Jordan, associates Charlotte Ambler and Matilda Unwin, and legal assistant Toni Jones.
Franki Ganter, a long-time corporate partner at Allens, will work from Gadens’ Brisbane and Sydney offices starting in October.
Commenting on the three appointments, CEO and managing partner Mark Pistilli said that having “market-leading corporate partners like Danny, Franki and Lynda” has reinforced Gadens as a “leading” firm.
“Their appointments are a key part of the firm’s national growth strategy. We are focused on building strength in the areas that matter most to our clients,” Pistilli said.
“People are at the centre of this strategy, and over the past 12 months, we have made intentional, considered appointments to the Gadens partnership to ensure we have the right expertise and leadership to meet client needs now and into the future.”
Gadens’ co-head of corporate, Jol Rogers, added that there was growing demand for “strategic, commercially focused advice” from clients in “increasingly complex commercial and regulatory environments”.
“Danny, Franki and Lynda each bring a track record of guiding clients through major transactions and critical governance challenges,” Rogers said.
After working as a founding partner and inaugural head of corporate at Clifford Chance in Australia, Simmons moved to Mills Oakley, where he continued to be widely regarded as a corporate law expert.
Simmons specialises in public and private M&A, proxy contests, board advisory, corporate governance, and corporate disputes, as well as advising several prominent family offices.
“I look forward to playing my part in the continued expansion of the corporate practice and joining a team that shares my commitment to delivering clear and concise advice to meet clients’ strategic objectives,” Simmons said of the move.
Reid, a seasoned corporate expert who advises on complex deals, public and private M&A, fundraising, and corporate disputes, started her career at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and then moved over to Mills Oakley.
With a strong grounding in financial regulation, Reid has brought sharp insights to her clients’ most complex matters.
“Joining Gadens is a fantastic opportunity to be part of the growth strategy for one of Australia’s most respected legal firms.
“The focus on clients and a truly collaborative partnership is refreshing, and really aligns with my own values,” Reid said.
Ganter has advised listed and unlisted domestic and foreign clients across a range of sectors, including infrastructure, energy and renewables, funds and financial services, and agribusiness and government.
She has worked closely with boards, executives and legal teams on complex transactions and strategic advice.
“I’m delighted to be joining Gadens during an exciting and transformative time for the firm and working with the national team to execute on its vision and strategy to be recognised as a leading independent national law firm,” she said.
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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