First with legal news

Allens Arthur Robinson

Deals back on for Rio Tinto and Chinalco

19 March 2010 | The Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto has signed an agreement with the Chinese metals group Chinalco to develop an iron ore project in Guinea. Law firms Allens Arthur Robinson and Baker & McKenzie are drilling into the deals.


Twelve angling (for) women

8 March 2010 | Glass ceilings, slippery ladders, boys' clubs and fraternities are finally being eradicated in an elite list of law firms, the government announced today.


Multi firm effort on Charter Hall acquisition

15 February 2010 | Allens, Mallesons, Freehills and Blake Dawson have all acted on a property funds management company's A$108 million acquisition of the majority of Macquarie Group Limited's core real estate management platform.


Lend Lease hires Allens for string of deals

17 December 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson is advising Lend Lease Group, the fully integrated property solutions provider, on its A$192 million acquisition of Lend Lease Primelife Group.


Allens, Blakes, act on Challenger acquisition

10 December 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson and Blake Dawson are acting on the Challenger Life Company Limited on the proposed A$157 million acquisition of 100 per cent of the units in Challenger Kenedix Japan Trust.


Minters, Allens, work on Rio Tinto acquisition

30 November 2009 | Minter Ellison has acted as Australian counsel on Amcor’s acquisition of Rio Tinto Plc Alcan’s packaging business units.


Bakers, Allens, advise on Sims Metal deal

27 November 2009 | Baker & McKenzie has advised Sims Metal Management on its newly announced $400m institutional placement. Allens Arthur Robinson advised the underwriters.


Carbon laws face new challenges

27 November 2009 | As Copenhagen looms, the future of Australia's carbon trade scheme was thrown into confusion yesterday as several opposition lawmakers resigned their party positions in open revolt over the carbon laws.


Allens signed up for London Stock Exchange deal

26 November 2009 | Allens joins Slaughter & May in advising a company on its plans to cancel its listing on the London Stock Exchange.


Allens wins CSR gong

13 November 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has been recognised for its corporate social responsibility program.


New laws threaten social media: lawyer

4 November 2009 | New workplace legislation has made social media communications between employers and employees more dangerous for employers, according to a leading workplace relations lawyer.


M&A tables big business for law firms

13 October 2009 | The dye is cast, the deals have been counted, and law firms are angling for the top positions of the merger and acquisition leagues tables.


M&A rankings sort law firms globally

12 October 2009 | Mallesons has topped the merger and acquisition Australian leagues tables in terms of deal value, according to figures released today.


US questions value of Australian firms for Asia

8 October 2009 | The question of whether Australian law firms hold the key to Asia that firms such as Norton Rose and Clifford Chance thinks it does, has been raised in the United States.


Allens advises Rio on copper and gold project

7 October 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has acted for Rio Tinto in the negotiation of its investment agreement with the Mongolian Government for its Oyu Tolgoi copper and gold project, signed last night.


Lawyers speculate over executive pay

1 October 2009 | The proposed changes to executive remuneration laws took a step forward this week with the Productivity Commission releasing a draft report into the changes.


Law firm Allens advises on Yahoo!7 acquisition

1 October 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has acted for Yahoo!7 in its acquisition of totaltravel.com, the online travel information marketplace.


Freehills, Allens build roadmap of new legislation

28 September 2009 | Two top-tier firms have advised the Victorian Government on its new transport legislation.


Law firms grapple with new Octaviar decision

23 September 2009 | The New Lawyer can reveal that in an unlikely union, top-tier competitors Allens Arthur Robinson and Mallesons Stephen Jaques have been liaising on how to best deal with last week's decision.


Aus firms seek clarity on social media

01:00 PM | Law firms came together this morning to delete a common question mark over social media. 1 comment


Victorian law firms boost pro bono by $7 million

16 September 2009 | Victorian law firms have increased their pro bono contributions as the economy falters.


Lawyers weigh in on Telstra overhaul

16 September 2009 | The federal government imposed its full regulatory weight on Telstra yesterday and made real its threats to split the telecommunications industry giant.


Depression top of agenda for firms

7 September 2009 | Five major Australian firms are on the brink of announcing their own support services for young graduate staff and law students.


Allens, Freehills, act on healthcare equity raising

28 August 2009 | Private hospital operator Healthscope has gone to the market to raise $140 million after a recently announced boost in profits.


Editorial note: Firms singing RAP's praises

24 August 2009 | Who can claim the mighty title of being the first firm to fight for Aboriginal rights? 1 comment


Allens insider talks on firm's new policy

21 August 2009 | An Indigenous paralegal at Allens gives us inside info as the firm launches a 'reconciliation action plan'.


Amcor deal a sign of things to come: lawyers

19 August 2009 | Law firms Freehills and Allens Arthur Robinson sealed positions on packing company Amcor Limited's A$3.1 billion equity raising, announce yesterday.


Allens, Corrs, advise on mega China takeover

14 August 2009 | Felix Resources, a Queensand-based coal producer, has received a $3.5 billion all-cash takeover offer from China's fourth-largest coal producer, Yanzhou Coal Mining Ltd.


Local law to open up Singapore to foreign firms

13 August 2009 | Foreign law firms operating in Singapore could soon practice Singapore law.


WA law firms in grad grab

12 August 2009 | Law firm graduate recruitment in Perth has descended in to a mad grab after Western Australia's largest firms dump the state's protocol.


Allens helps bank recover from dive

11 August 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has acted on the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank $300 million equity raising, announced yesterday.


Allens, Clayton Utz, act on desalination project

5 August 2009 | Allens and Clayton Utz have advised on the $3.5 billion desalination project public private partnership.


Allens acts on $40 million joint venture

02:45 PM | Allens has advised Royal Ten Cate on the sale of a 50 per cent joint venture, worth $40 million.


Exiting partnership a daunting task: lawyer

20 July 2009 | Leaving a firm after many years can be difficult for law firm partners, who unlike senior executives in other industries tend to remain with the one firm for many years.


Promotions defy recruitment crunch, redundancies

13 July 2009 | The legal profession continues to make appointments and promotions in its top ranks as partner announcements come through and firms boost key practice areas with new talent. 1 comment


Allens, Freehills, Clayton Utz and Deacons share biosciences deal

8 July 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has acted for the Plenary Group as leader of the winning consortium for the $230 million Biosciences Research Centre project


Bargain hunters swoop in for capital raisings

6 July 2009 | A healthy run of capital raisings is expected to continue into the new financial year, as companies look to grow their businesses and take advantage of bargain deals.


Allens Arthur Robinson redundancies approved

3 July 2009 | It has been confirmed that more than 100 staff at Allens Arthur Robinson have been approved for redundancy.


Downturn prompting fresh look at practices

2 July 2009 | The global financial crisis has forced law firms to re-evaluate their work practices and provided a catalyst for change in the legal sector, according to participants in a round-table discussion hosted by LexisNexis recently. 1 comment


Firm friends: Pilot program pairs city and rural practices

1 July 2009 | A new program is pairing up small to medium sized regional firms with large city practices for pro bono work.


Voluntary redundancy offer proves popular

30 June 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has been inundated with voluntary redundancy applications by its staff with approximately 100 taking up the firm's offer.


Federal Court decision could impact on late payment fees

29 June 2009 | The Federal Court made a significant step in what is likely to be a long and painful process of judicial interpretation of Australia’s financial supply rules with a recent decision.


Aviva sale a sign of resilience

26 June 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson and Freehills have orchestrated the sale of Aviva Australia Holdings Ltd to the National Australia Bank (NAB).


Pay cuts boom as firms avoid redundancies

12 June 2009 | Pay cuts have replaced layoffs as the money saver de rigeur for law firms.


Deacons chairman faces homelessness

10 June 2009 | Emails have been going around Deacons, alerting staff to the news that the Sydney chairman, Nick Abrahams, will be sleeping on the streets. 3 comments


Allens and Freehills advise as Rio strikes deal with BHP

5 June 2009 | RIO Tinto and BHP Billiton have struck a joint venture to bring together the two companies' iron ore interests in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Allens and Freehills have scooped the landmark deal.


Allens on Perth property deal

4 June 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has acted for GPT RE Limited in relation to the transaction for the sale of the Floreat Forum shopping centre to Perth-based Australasian Property Investments.


ACCC gives nod to telecomms merger

2 June 2009 | The competition watchdog says it won't oppose the planned merger of the Australian mobile communications business Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Ltd and Vodafone.


Allens acts on Charter Hall capital raising deal

29 May 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has acted for Charter Hall Group on a A$118 million raising with strategic investment from Gandel Group.


ASIC's ban lift a good sign for regulators: Allens

26 May 2009 | ASIC's surprise lifting of the ban on short-selling yesterday marks the end of a period of regulatory uncertainty for equity markets participants, an Allens Arthur Robinson partner has claimed.


Large law appeal in capital raisings

19 May 2009 | As clients scramble to raise funds in an uncertain global economy, large firms in particular are being called upon to help. 1 comment


New attitudes to issuing equity make lawyers' windfall

12 May 2009 | A changing perception around issuing equity is providing Australia's top firms with a gamut of work in the downturn.


Allens on M&A pension deal

8 May 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson is acting for the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board on its proposal to acquire stapled securities in Macquarie Communications Infrastructure Group.


Allens on latest capital raising

7 May 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson acts on the GPT Group capital raising.


Mallesons, Allens, unite on Octaviar

4 May 2009 | Mallesons Stephen Jaques and Allens Arthur Robinson have united in a bid to undo growing uncertainty over the Queensland Supreme Court’s Octaviar decision.


Firms rescued by capital raisings

30 April 2009 | Capital raisings are keeping law firms busy as clients rush to raise funds in an uncertain market.


Lawyers spill on ethical responsibilities

29 April 2009 | Lawyers' code of ethics varies greatly to those in other professions, a new survey into professional ethics has revealed.


Deacons, Allens prepare for cartel work

28 April 2009 | LAWYERS have engaged in a debate over consumer watchdog chairman Graeme Samuel's comments yesterday that many large firms will be underprepared to deal with the criminalisation of cartel activity when it comes into place in the next year.


Depression rife in law schools, firms to blame

27 April 2009 | Alarmingly high levels of depression among law students may be linked to sponsorship from a handful of large law firms and narrow career advice given to graduates.


Firms' reduced hours may cause 'pandemonium'

21 April 2009 | LAW firms are implementing four-day working weeks as an alternative to retrenchments and universally cutting salaries. 1 comment


Michael Rose explains Allens' pay freeze

17 April 2009 | Lawyers will have to be flexible about moving between practice areas and will have the opportunity to snap up a redundancy package as part of a new program coming into effect at Allens Arthur Robinson.


Allens announces pay freeze, voluntary redundancies

17 April 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson is the latest firm to announce a salary freeze as a result of the global financial crisis.


Allens and Mallesons, reinforcing OneSteel

17 April 2009 | Allens Arthur Robinson has acted for global steel manufacturer OneSteel in an accelerated non-renounceable rights issue.


Enter the China M&A slump

14 April 2009 | DOING deals in China just got riskier. Following the block of Coca-Cola's $2.4 billion takeover of the nation's biggest juice manufacturer, two of Australia's top law firms confirm M&A work in China is changing.


Allens opens Jakarta premises

9 April 2009 | Asia Pacific firm Allens Arthur Robinson has opened new premises in Jakarta.


Global work in the downturn

9 April 2009 | The world is a bigger place, but how far has the global financial crisis stymied the opportunities available to lawyers who want to work across borders? Allens Arthur Robinson partner Tim Lester writes.


When will the recession be over? When will it begin?

7 April 2009 | Kate Gibbs, editor of The New Lawyer, says firms should be more realistic about how long this recession will last. 1 comment


Blakes, Clayton Utz, Mallesons get a kicking

2 April 2009 | BLAKE Dawson continues to get a kicking for its woeful handling of its redundancy process, while everyone at Clayton Utz is “psychotic”. So reads the offensive on a newly released Australian law firm survey.


Upbeat mood at Mallesons, clerk offers at Freehills: the online debate

31 March 2009 | At Gilbert + Tobin there have "been no retrenchments", while at Mallesons Stephen Jaques the mood "seems pretty upbeat". These are the insights into the market from anonymous sources, tapped up on the Justinian site.


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