The firm advised on the structuring and capital raising laws applicable to the new fund, which raised $300 million. The capital will be directed into investments in fast-growing companies. Williamson was assisted on the matter by solicitor Chris Yip, who worked on the documentation, and special tax counsel Brendon Lamers who advised on tax and structuring issues.

The private equity market in Australia is now clearly segmented, Williamson said, with different funds and fund managers focused on different sectors — from large buyouts and expansion capital to media and technology, biotech and seed funds, all of which operate on a national basis. “There is now very significant and growing demand from Australian superannuation funds and offshore investors to invest in quality Australian private equity funds across a number of different segments,” he said.

Williamson advised CHAMP Ventures and related fund manager CHAMP on their last four funds, including the $950 million CHAMP II Buyout Fund last year with colleague Trish Williams.