Sydney, 14 May 2013: Clayton Utz is in the running for several awards at the 2013 ALB Australasian Law Awards, which recognise and celebrate the legal profession's achievements and successes over a 12-month period.
Clayton Utz is a finalist for Corporate Citizen Firm of the Year, as well as being shortlisted in the Employee Health & Wellbeing and Innovative Use of Technology Award categories.
Several deals which completed in 2012 and on which Clayton Utz had key advisory roles have also been named finalists in their respective categories:
Energy and Resources Deal of the Year
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Yancoal Australia and Gloucester Coal merger: Clayton Utz advised longstanding client Noble Group on a proposed A$8 billion merger between Gloucester Coal and Yancoal Australia.
Key partners:
Rory Moriarty and Graham Taylor.
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Ichthys LNG Project Financing: A Clayton Utz team advised Chubu Electric Power Co. on its acquisition of an interest in the Ichthys LNG Project, which will develop the Ichthys fields, located in the Browse Basin off-shore of Western Australia, for the production of LNG and condensate.
Key partners: Kevin O'Sullivan and Adel van der Walt.
Equity Market Deal of the Year
- Sell down of shares in QR National: Clayton Utz acted for Queensland Treasury Holdings on its A$1.5 billion sell-down of shares in ASX-listed QR National Limited. The sell-down comprised a A$0.5 billion block trade to institutional investors that settled 11 October, and a A$1 billion buy-back by QR National (subject to shareholder approval). Key partners: Tim Reid and Stuart Byrne.
M&A Deal of the Year
- Pacific Equity Partners' acquisition of Spotless: Clayton Utz advised longstanding client Spotless Group Limited on its acquisition by Pacific Equity Partners. Our role included advising Spotless on all aspects of the scheme of arrangement, including the preparation of all transaction and disclosure documents. Clayton Utz also provided ongoing counsel to the Spotless Board, executive team and management throughout the process. Key partners: Rod Halstead, Karen Evans-Cullen and Andrew Walker.
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Sydney Desalination Plant privatisation: Clayton Utz had a minor role advising Infigen on its involvement in the Sydney Desalination Plant.
Key partner: Bruce Cooper.
Project Finance Deal of the Year
- APLNG project financing: A Clayton Utz team advised APLNG and its sponsors in respect of the successful close of the US$8.5 billion financing for APLNG's liquefaction plant and facilities on Curtis Island. The transaction is Australia's largest ever project financing and the first time that the export finance arms of the United States and China (which together will contribute at least US$6 billion of debt) have co-operated on an Australian project. Key partners: Bruce Cooper, Arch Fletcher and Stephen Fall.
New Zealand Deal of the Year
Award winners will be announced at a gala function at Sydney Town Hall, Sydney, on Thursday 30 May. The Awards event is well attended by both private practice and in-house lawyers and other legal industry professionals from Australia and New Zealand.