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Key Points:

We highlight some significant deals and other interesting milestones for the firm.

Reconciliation on CU's agenda

In March this year Clayton Utz joined a growing number of Australian businesses and community organisations committed to addressing the inequality that exists between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with the formal launch of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).

Our RAP was developed in consultation with Reconciliation Australia, the peak national organisation building and promoting reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. It was developed over several months with the involvement of a dedicated group of Clayton Utz people drawn from around our offices, from all backgrounds and areas of experience, and with input from the firm's Indigenous friends, clients and contacts.

The programs we have committed to through our RAP are founded on three cornerstone Reconciliation Australia principles: Opportunities, Respect, and Relationships.

"For many years now Clayton Utz has worked closely with Indigenous clients and organisations around Australia through our Pro Bono and Community Connect programs. These programs will continue to be an important way we can help to make a difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but we can also strengthen our commitment by creating meaningful opportunities in employment, education and training, and by supporting Indigenous-owned companies through our procurement processes," said Mr Fagan.

Clayton Utz' RAP is available from Reconciliation Australia's website: www.reconciliation.org.au.

New community partnership to showcase artistic talents of Groote Eylandt community

In another exciting new initiative, CU has also teamed up with Australian Red Cross and Centre (and Artists) to promote the artistic talents of the Indigenous peoples of Groote Eylandt in Australia's far north.

On Thursday 13 May, our CEP David Fagan and Darwin office Managing Partner Mark Spain attended the launch of the very first Anindilyakwa Art Exhibition held at the Dugong Resort on Groote Eylandt ― located more than 1,300 kilometres from Darwin, in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Over 250 people attended the launch, one of the largest community events in Groote Eylandt's history. The Vice-Chairman of Anindilyakwa Land Council, Tony Wurramarrba, spoke on behalf of the local community, and guests enjoyed performances by local musicians and dancers.

The Anindilyakwa Art Exhibition will remain on Groote Eylandt this week before being packed and transported to Clayton Utz' Sydney offices for exhibition during NAIDOC week in July. It will be the first time the artwork will leave Groote Eylandt for exhibition in any part of Australia. The Exhibition will then return to Darwin where it will on display in the Smith Street Mall outside the Australian Red Cross office.

All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go to the artists and the Groote Eylandt community, which will in turn donate a percentage of the proceeds to the Red Cross Angurugu Remote Communities Holiday Program ― a new Red Cross initiative aimed at engaging youth at Angurugu in meaningful activities during school holidays and giving them an opportunity to develop skills, increase their self-confidence and boost pride in themselves and their community. The Clayton Utz Foundation is an existing and proud supporter of the Red Cross Angurugu Remote Communities Holiday Program.

Deals in focus: Our partners get down to business on successful Southern Cross Media deals

CU lawyers continue to advise on some of the market's most cutting-edge and high-profile transactions.

One of our recent transactions was the successful completion of various internalisation and corporatisation initiatives for Southern Cross Media Group (formerly Macquarie Media Group), and the refinancing of Southern Cross Media’s business level debt facility in March.

These unique transactions followed on from SCMG's innovative capital raising conducted last year and represent a rare combination of events by virtue of SCMG seeking to restructure many facets of its business at the one time.

Because of the broad range of expertise required to undertake these transactions, our team comprised lawyers from a range of practice areas.

The team that worked on completion of the internalisation and corporatisation initiatives included Corporate/M&A partners Karen Evans-Cullen and Toby Ryston-Pratt with senior associate Claire Galt, and lawyer Joshua Barwick and Banking and Financial Services partner Matt Daley. Equity Capital Markets partner Stuart Byrne previously advised on the recapitalisation.

Banking and Financial Services partners Geoff Geha and Alex Schlosser, with the assistance of lawyers Danister de Silva and Ally Bridges, acted for Southern Cross Media on the refinancing arrangements.

As a result of the completion of the internalisation and corporatisation initiatives, SCMG is no longer part of the Macquarie Group. It continues to be listed with a single parent company, Southern Cross Media Group Limited, under the ASX code SXL.

Other work is currently being undertaken to assist SCMG with its transformation into a standalone entity. Partner David Landy and lawyer Felicity Daley are assisting with the development of new corporate governance policies for the Southern Cross Media Group.

These are novel transactions which present interesting challenges for our teams and continue Clayton Utz' longstanding relationship with SCMG dating back to 2006.

Congratulating the team, David Fagan said: "I would like to particularly recognise the significant work undertaken by Alex Schlosser and Toby-Ryston Pratt with Matt Daley on these transactions. It is great to see our newest partners taking the reins on deals of this magnitude."

BRW Client Choice award recognises our Canberra office

In deserved recognition for our Canberra office, Clayton Utz was named Best Professional Services Firm in the ACT at the 2010 BRW Client Choice Awards announced on 17 March.

The BRW Client Choice Awards recognise excellence in client service among professional services firms, as judged by clients. Eighty-nine firms across a range of industry sectors were eligible for awards this year, with Clayton Utz among a select group of finalists.

Clayton Utz Canberra office managing partner John Carroll said the award reflected Clayton Utz' commitment to the ACT legal market and strong focus on client service excellence.

"Over a decade ago, Clayton Utz committed to our ACT clients by establishing an on-the-ground presence and building a legal team with a unique understanding of the needs of both our government and private sector clients – with a focus on delivering market-leading, innovative, commercially focused legal services," said John. "We are delighted that our clients have acknowledged the quality of our service offering and we thank them for their support."

Clayton Utz was also one of four finalists in the Best Law Firm of the Year category.