Private M&A

‍
Our market leading M&A team has a strong track record of delivering successful outcomes to our clients, as they execute transactions to drive growth, gain competitive advantages, or seek to exit their investment. 

We recognise that M&A transactions require significant time and commitment for our clients, and are committed to delivering our services with a commensurate level of quality and focus. 

Our team has deep expertise on both buy and sell side engagements and strategic and private equity investments, as well as family business, in a wide range of industry sectors and with clients across different stages of the business cycle.  We also routinely advise international clients on cross border M&A transactions, helping them to navigate the Australian regulatory and commercial environment. 

Our M&A team is supported by our full service offering in other specialist areas, which allows us to quickly identify the key deal issues and value drivers and work to find commercial solutions for you.

Joint ventures

‍
Joint ventures, alliances and minority investments have become important strategic options for many corporates and investors. 

Our corporate team advises on the structuring, operation and termination of joint venture arrangements. We advise on the issues and pitfalls that can arise along the way, including key issues such as funding, governance, voting and deadlock resolution as well as future value realisation and exit strategies.

Our team provides advice on commercial and strategic issues from the inception of the joint venture through business planning, evaluation and implementation.  Working collaboratively across our practice groups, we are able to provide an integrated service focused on your commercial needs in areas such as energy and resources, real estate, regulatory and licensing, tax, employment and benefits, commercial, environmental and intellectual property law.

Acting as trusted counsel for corporates, investment managers and banks, you will benefit from our experience of negotiating complex and cross-border joint venture arrangements in a broad range of sectors.

Capital markets

‍
Access to capital is one of the most important challenges facing companies and their growth objectives. Thomson Geer assists you in achieving your growth objectives by understanding your business and environment in which you operate and offering commercial advice and complex structures when off-the-shelf approaches are not appropriate.  

We routinely advise issuers, underwriters and other corporate advisors on the full spectrum of capital markets transactions, including initial public offers and secondary fundraisings (through the issue of equity and debt securities).

Thomson Geer has strong working relationships with the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and other market participants.  Through these relationships and our extensive experience, Thomson Geer provides you with clear insight and advice on disclosure regimes and regulatory considerations relevant and specific to each transaction.

Foreign investment

‍
Our experienced foreign investment team provides clear guidance on complex and evolving Australian foreign investment rules. 

Recent developments in the foreign investment regime to expand scrutiny in national security areas such as telecommunications, key infrastructure, defence and intelligence mean that an understanding of the foreign investment notification and approval requirements is vital when investing in Australia.

Australia remains an attractive place for foreign investment due to its strong institutions, transparent regulations and skilled workforce.  Our team advises Australian entities seeking foreign investment, foreign investors looking to acquire Australian businesses, companies and land, as well as advising on Australian foreign investment requirements on multi-jurisdictional deals.

Our foreign investment team has the expertise in corporate M&A, real property, finance, taxation and competition law necessary to provide clear and practical advice on how Australia's foreign investment review regime applies to your deal. 

Our experience dealing with Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) in the foreign investment assessment and approval process enables us to provide you with advice regarding how the complex rules and regulations will impact your deal.

Our team works closely with TG Public Affairs to monitor policy developments and reform proposals to enable us to advise you on how future developments may impact proposed transactions.

Commercial contracts

‍
Commercial arrangements are fundamental to the success of a business. Thomson Geer assists you by assessing the commercial and legal risks involved and providing commercial advice and support focusing on the risks and issues which drive client value.

Working collaboratively across our practice groups, we are able to provide an integrated service focused on your commercial needs in areas such as real estate, regulatory and licensing, tax, employment and benefits, commercial, environmental and intellectual property law. Our contractual solutions benefit from our sector, technical and regulatory knowledge. We seek to structure arrangements in a way which maximises client benefit, protects against downside risk and, most importantly, achieves client objectives.

Thomson Geer has extensive experience across all forms of contracts and commercial agreements, including agreements relating to procurement, IT, licensing, e-commerce, logistics, manufacturing, distribution, provision of services and franchising. We provide assistance with documenting arrangements, reviewing and negotiating agreements and providing specific advice on certain provisions.

Governance

‍
Good corporate governance practices are critical for both public and private entities to meet ever increasing and evolving regulatory obligations and the demands of shareholders, the community and other stakeholders.  

Our corporate team supports company officers, boards, board committees, in-house legal counsel and other senior executives to comply with these complex governance obligations and expectations. We provide timely advice which is tailored to the context of the problem and the nature of the organisation. We understand the day-to-day issues facing people who run, or are responsible for, organisations and the need for considered and transparent decision making processes. We can assist you to achieve practical corporate governance outcomes in strategic and sensitive situations.

Thomson Geer routinely advises on a broad range of governance issues including market disclosures and Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listing rule compliance, board composition and succession, corporate and group policies, general meetings, reporting requirements, corporate filings, director duties, indemnities and insurance and executive retention and remuneration.