We have a track record of delivering highly successful outcomes for clients engaged in M&A activity both in Australia and cross border.
Our experience includes acquisitions and divestments private and public companies, including via takeover bids and schemes of arrangements. We act on both hostile and friendly takeovers.
We have extensive experience in pre-IPO acquisitions and roll ups. We will take the time to properly understand your long-term desired commercial outcomes and structure your transaction towards achieving them, including managing any flow on effects during a subsequent listing process.
We can assist you with bid preparation (or defence), due diligence, integration planning (including IP, technology and employment), managing corporate governance through the process and maximising your chances of winning in a transaction, including by negotiating appropriate warranties and indemnities.
We will advise on regulatory approvals that may be required, such as from FIRB, ASIC or the ACCC. We also have experience running matters before the Takeovers Panel.
We can also assist you in raising equity or debt where required to fund an acquisition.
Principal
Alistair specialises in complex commercial matters that require careful strategic planning. An experienced commercial litigator with an outstanding record of success in contested litigation, Alistair also applies his exceptional black letter knowledge and analytical skills in transactional work. Alistair is known for his ability to cut through to the real issues and for giving clear and concise advice. He is trusted by some of Australia’s most preeminent business people to handle their personal legal affairs. Alistair is regularly engaged in matters involving serious risk to personal and corporate reputations and he has extensive experience in media sensitive matters. Prior to founding Automic Legal in 2010, Alistair worked at Freehills and was an Associate to a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia. Alistair’s academic work has been quoted by the Court of Appeal of New South Wales and in leading Australian text books. Alistair has extensive experience advising ASX listed companies and their directors and is a member of the University of New South Wales Law Advisory Council.
LinkedIn
Principal | Chief Compliance Officer
David is an experienced corporate lawyer specialising in listings on ASX (IPOs and reverse listings), equity capital markets, mergers & acquisitions and providing advice on corporate governance and compliance issues. He is sought out for his expertise and guidance across a range of legal, governance and ASX compliance matters that are commonly considered by the Boards of unlisted (pre-IPO) and ASX listed entities at every stage of their growth, from listings, secondary raisings and strategic acquisitions or investments. David is a trusted adviser to dozens of boards and executive teams across a range of industries, including technology, health care, industrials, e-commerce and mining. David is a member of Automic Group’s senior leadership team, and serves as its Chief Compliance Officer across the company secretarial, legal, registry and governance divisions.
Victoria-Jane is a lawyer with extensive experience in all areas of commercial law and litigation and also spans the employment and media practices of Automic Group. Given Victoria-Jane’s breadth of experience, she is able to readily identify and diagnose legal issues and risks enabling her to provide strategic and pragmatic advice specifically catered to a client’s specific needs. Victoria-Jane acts for large institutional clients, publicly listed entities, small to medium businesses and individuals across the Federal and various State jurisdictions of Australia. In addition to her core areas, Victoria-Jane is also recognised for her transactional and corporate advisory work which is heavily informed by her understanding and experience in litigation and disputes. Victoria-Jane is a trusted advisor to her clients and known for her empathy and approachable manner.
Senior Associate
Stella is a corporate law specialist with extensive experience in cross-border and domestic merger and acquisitions, regulatory compliance and corporate governance issues. She has advised on a number of significant inbound investments and multi-jurisdictional acquisitions across a broad range of industries, as well as listings on ASX (IPOs and reverse listings). She is trusted by her clients for her commercial acumen and ability to deal with complex issues in a clear and concise manner. Formerly a lawyer in ASIC, Stella has gained special knowledge and skillset in regulatory compliance and corporate governance advisory, with demonstrated technical expertise in fundraising, takeover provisions, related party transactions, continuous disclosure and financial reporting provisions under the Corporations Act. She was also heavily involved in the Crowd Source Funding and Emerging Market Issuer projects while working in ASIC. Stella also has experience in ACCC and NZCC merger clearance filing, other competition law and consumer law matters.
As Australia's leading professional service provider for listed and unlisted entities, we help businesses accelerate growth and succeed.
Registry tech and support centred on accuracy and growth.
Experts to manage your Company Secretarial needs.
Our team ensures you consistently meet governance requirements.
Unprecedented expertise to ensure your financial success.
Market-leading Initial Public Offering (IPO) services.
Robust, user-friendly tech solution for the legal field.