Mariam Azzo
Clayton Utz
Mariam is an absolute delight to work with. Not only is she friendly and pleasant even under pressure, but she is proactive in her work and gives me the confidence that what I receive from her will be accurate, well thought-out and value adding. From the first conversation I had with Mariam I was filled with happiness and a sense of security which is a very rare combination indeed!
– Client quote
Mariam advises on complex corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate governance, across sectors such as energy, infrastructure, resources and transport. She also has a strong focus on the rapidly expanding impact investing sector, advising clients on impact transactions, corporate governance arrangements, and directors' duties. Her work focuses on supporting clients in implementing ethical and impactful transactions and embedding ethical and sustainable practices into their operations.
She holds a qualification in sustainable capitalism from UC Berkeley School of Law and is acknowledged by Best Lawyers as “one to watch” in Corporate Law. Mariam also brings international experience in social justice, having led a major Commonwealth-wide project on child protection and regularly advising NGOs on human rights advocacy, including submissions to the United Nations.
Confidential client: Advised a client on a potential investment in an Aboriginal-owned company without compromising its certification or procurement advantages — ensuring long-term growth and lasting community impact.
Confidential investor: Advised on Australia's first sustainable end-of-life care project which will transform the traditional end-of-life industry with the use of market-leading technology for a more environmentally sustainable outcome.
Confidential matter: Advised on a community initiative which involved consideration of complex governance frameworks to align with steward-ownership principles, ensuring tax efficiency to avoid leakage which could instead be redistributed for the project's social and environmental purpose, and supporting mission-aligned capital raising.
Multinational client: Advised the sellers of a multinational organisation on the sale of its Australian business, ensuring the protection of employee jobs and facilitating the buyer’s acquisition through a flexible loan structure with favourable repayment terms.
Byggfakta Group: Advised on its acquisition of BCI Media, a leading business-to-business information provider for the Asia-Pacific and US construction industries.
Intellihub: Advised on a multi-faceted transaction involving WINConnect, Intelllihub and Origin Energy Limited whereby Intellihub acquired both WINconnect’s and Origin's electricity embedded network meters and on-sold WINConnect to Origin Energy Limited.
Hermes Infrastructure: Advised on the acquisition of a 74 percent stake in a €950 million Spanish toll road concession from ACS Group and advising on the shareholder governance arrangements. *
Columbia Threadneedle: Advised its Sustainable Infrastructure Fund on the entering into of its partnership agreement with Smart Metering Systems plc (SMS) to develop SMS's pipeline of carbon reduction asset opportunities. *
Sumitomo Corporation and Kansai Electric Power Company: Advised on their A$1.2 billion acquisition of Bluewaters Power (formerly known as Griffin Power).
Mohawk Industries, Inc.: Advising on the ~A$600 million acquisition of the Godfrey Hirst Group (the leading flooring company in Australia and New Zealand), which was one of the largest private M&A transactions in Australia in 2017.
Genuine Parts Company: Advising on the acquisition of an initial 35% stake in Inenco Group, an Australian industrial parts supplier, and the acquisition of the remainder of the Inenco Group in the coming years based on future earnings. Mariam also advised Genuine Parts Company on its 100% acquisition of Exego Group valuing the enterprise at over A$1 billion.
Kajima Corporation: Advised various subsidiaries on the sale of 50% of the units in a Jersey property trust to a large Japanese railway company and advising on the ongoing shareholder governance arrangements. *
Greencross Limited: Advising on its A$330 million merger with Mammoth Pet Holding.
National Roads and Motoring Association (NRMA): Advised Australia's peak road and motoring association on its acquisition of Manly Fast Ferry.
*Experience from London office of international law firm.