Stuart Byrne

Clayton Utz
Partner Sydney

Stuart is an excellent practitioner. His experience and knowledge in the ECM sector is second to none, and he is very commercial and practical in his advice whilst also being detail-oriented.

– Chambers

Overview

One of Australia's leading corporate, M&A, and capital markets lawyers and Head of our Equity Capital Markets team, recognised as Band 1 by Chambers ECM and Legal 500. Brings extensive expertise to advising companies and major investment banks on a wide array of fundraising and other corporate transactions. A client-centric approach, combined with broad skills in both public and private corporate matters, underpins guidance to ASX-listed and unlisted issuers and investment banks. Expertise includes IPOs, placements, capital raisings, investment vehicles, hybrid securities, head office advisory, governance, and M&A.

Notable Work

Equity Capital Markets experience:

  • Asciano: Advised on a landmark A$2.35 billion placement and accelerated entitlement offer.

  • InvoCare: Advised on a scheme of arrangement with TPG, various capital raisings, and head office matters.

  • Marley Spoon SE: Advised on its 2023 business combination with German-listed SPAC 468 SPAC II SE, including a A$157 million capital raise, funding rounds, convertible bonds, ASX de-listing, and Frankfurt re-listing.

  • Nuix Limited: Advised on its A$1.7 billion IPO and listing on ASX, helping Nuix to raise approximately A$953 million.

  • Tyro Payments Limited: Advised on its IPO, strategic transactions, and head office matters.

  • SongTradr: Advised on corporate transactions, including fundraisings and investments in Jaxta.

  • WiseTech Global: Oversaw IPO and acquisitions. Advised logistics SaaS provider WiseTech on its A$1.4 billion IPO, pre-IPO equity and debt raising (including with Fidelity Investments), and the acquisition of Cargo Community Network Australia.

  • ATI Global: Corporate and transaction adviser to one of Australia's largest unlisted tech companies.

  • FINEOS Corporation Holdings PLC: Advised on corporate matters since its IPO, including fundraisings and a A$40 million placement.

  • Limeade, Inc.: Advised on its IPO, strategic advice, and ultimate merger and delisting via a A$112 million acquisition by WebMD Health Services.

  • Charter Hall WALE Limited: Advised on a A$94.1 million entitlement offer to fund the acquisition of Virgin Australia's Brisbane head office.

  • Conrad Asia Energy Ltd: Advised on its A$45 million IPO and ASX listing, with an opening market capitalisation of A$233 million.

  • Kinetic Development Group Ltd: Advised on its US$90 million subscription into MC Mining Limited.

  • Macquarie Capital: Advised as underwriter to TPG Telecom’s A$400.3 million entitlement offer.

  • Goldman Sachs: Advised on Sigma Healthcare Limited’s A$400 million equity raise.

  • Morgans and Morgan Stanley: Advised as joint lead managers on Corporate Travel Management’s A$375 million entitlement offer.

Corporate and M&A experience:

  • Quadrant Energy: Advised Brookfield and Macquarie-led consortium on the US$2.5 billion sale of Quadrant Energy to Santos Limited.

  • Bidder Consortium (Ironbridge and Salter Brothers): Advised on the acquisition of Prospa Limited via a scheme of arrangement, including a public-to-private structure and post-deal arrangements.

  • Toxfree Solutions: Advised on its A$186 million acquisition of Daniels Health Pty Ltd and related assets.

  • CoverMore: Advised as Joint Lead Managers on the A$138 million acquisition of Travelex Insurance Services.

  • Navigator Global Investments Limited: Advised on its A$297 million restructuring and fundraising.

  • InvoCare Limited: Advising in respect of its active takeover defence following a scheme of arrangement proposal from TPG Capital for A$1.86 billion. 

  • TTI, Inc. (a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway): Advised on its acquisition of Australian-based multinational semiconductors business Braemac.

  • InLoop Pty Ltd: Strategic sale of LanternPay to HICAPS.

  • Prospa: Advised the bidding consortium on its take private via scheme of arrangements for ASX-listed Prospa.

  • Keypath: Advised Keypath on Sterling Partners take private merger transaction for ASX-listed Keypath.

  • Marley Spoon: Advised Marley Spoon on the sale of its ChefGood business to My Muscle Chef, a portfolio company of Quadrant Private Equity.

Insights
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Media Release: Clayton Utz captures two 'Law Firm of the Year' awards in The Best Lawyers in Australia 2024 edition
20 Apr 2023 | Media Release
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ASIC changes to the new employee share scheme regime for listed entities
7 Feb 2023 | Article
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ASIC changes to the new employee share scheme regime for unlisted entities
7 Feb 2023 | Article
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Equity incentives for employees: new Corporation Act rules for listed entities
14 Apr 2022 | Article
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Unlisted entities and equity incentives for employees – rule changes from 1 October 2022
14 Apr 2022 | Article
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Media Release: Three Clayton Utz partners named winners at 2020 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards
14 Dec 2020 | Media Release
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NSW launches remote witnessing pilot scheme; Treasurer remakes e-signing arrangements for companies
29 Sep 2020 | Article
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COVID-19 temporary changes to continuous disclosure provisions for listed entities
27 May 2020 | Article
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Company directors and secretaries allowed to sign documents electronically, and clarity on company meetings, in new COVID-19 measures
6 May 2020 | Article
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ASX and ASIC COVID-19 capital raising and other measures to provide temporary relief for ASX-listed entities
1 Apr 2020 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz congratulates Tyro on completion of its successful IPO and ASX listing
12 Dec 2019 | Media Release
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Media Release: Software company FINEOS successfully lists on the ASX, with help from Clayton Utz
19 Aug 2019 | Media Release
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Media Release: Clayton Utz acts for Brookfield and Macquarie on US$2.15 billion Quadrant sale to Santos
28 Aug 2018 | Media Release
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New interception and access powers to encrypted communications and devices to affect carriers and device manufacturers
14 Aug 2018 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz's Shae McCartney and Mark Geritz among winners at the 2018 Partner of the Year Awards
28 Jun 2018 | Media Release
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ASIC releases new guidance on the provision of sell-side research
1 Mar 2018 | Article
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Will the Spotify listing entice other unicorns into the public market?
1 Mar 2018 | Article
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New concerted practice laws can apply to IPO pricing – a lesson for Australia
7 Dec 2017 | Article
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Clayton Utz named Legal Adviser of the Year at inaugural PPP Awards
1 Dec 2017 | Media Release
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Clayton Utz advises on landmark $350 million Australian Term Loan B deal for InfoTrack and LEAP Legal Software
14 Sep 2017 | Media Release
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Start-up Spriggy gets Clayton Utz on board for $2.5 million capital raising round
25 Aug 2017 | Media Release
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Clayton Utz features prominently among finalists for the 2017 Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards
25 Jul 2017 | Media Release
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Clayton Utz shows strongly among finalists for 2017 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards
17 Mar 2017 | Media Release
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