MinterEllison

MinterEllison
Headquarters Sydney, Australia
No. of offices 15
No. of attorneys 190+ partners, 600 lawyers
Key people

Bruce Cowley, Chairman

Tony Harrington, Chief Executive Partner
Revenue A$428 million (2014/2015)
Date founded 1827
Company type Partnership
Website
www.minterellison.com

MinterEllison is a multinational professional services firm based in Australia. The firm has offices in five countries and 15 cities, including in every Australian capital city, London, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Ulaanbaatar.[1] By number of lawyers it is the largest provider of legal services in Australia.[2]

For the 2014/2015 financial year, MinterEllison acted on a large number of M&A transactions with a total deal value of A$30 billion as well as A$34 billion worth of infrastructure projects during the year. It also advised 70 per cent of the ASX 50 companies, a group that represents the large-cap component of the Australian stock market.[3]

Formerly known as Minter Ellison Lawyers, MinterEllison was a member of the Big Six leading Australian law firms before that term was superseded by a series of international law firm mergers.[4] In March 2015, MinterEllison dropped "lawyers" from its name, announcing that it would pursue growth with a strategy of diversification into project management, consulting and other professional services. Chief Executive Tony Harrington told the Australian Financial Review that the change in branding and strategy is the firm adapting to "phenomenal change in the market: change that encompasses technology-driven standardised products, increased in-house capacity at clients, and ever-consolidating larger businesses."[5] MinterEllison is aiming for substantial growth, planning to increase revenue from roughly A$400 million to around A$600 million by 2020.[5] In April 2016, Minter Ellison launched a contract lawyer business, Flex, to provide clients with an alternative cost model for legal services.[6]

History

MinterEllison's origins can be traced back to 1827, when Frederick Wright Unwin was admitted to practice in New South Wales. Its first international office was opened in London in 1974, and its roots in China date back to the 1980s, when it was part of the Beijing Interjura consultancy (1987-1993) and though a co-operation agreement with Great Wall Law Firm (the law firm of China's Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations and Trade) signed in 1990.

In 1987, Ellison Hewison & Whitehead merged with Gillott, Moir & Winneke and with Minter Simpson & Co to become Minter Ellison.[7]

In 1992, Minter Ellison and Morris Fletcher & Cross merged to become Minter Ellison Morris Fletcher and in 1995, the firm officially becomes known as Minter Ellison. In 2000, the Canberra office merged with Deacon Graham & James.

The firm established offices in Hong Kong in 2000, Shanghai in 2001, Beijing in 2010, and Ulaanbaatar in 2012.

On 1 September 2001 the New Zealand (Auckland and Wellington) law firm of Rudd Watts & Stone changed its name to Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (this firm is a member of the MinterEllison Legal Group and as an 'associated' firm does not form part of the integrated MinterEllison partnership.)

Operations

Practice areas

MinterEllison's key areas of practice are:[8]

Pro bono

More than 75 per cent of MinterEllison’s lawyers engaged in pro bono work in the 2014/2015 financial year, with a total of 30,000 hours completed.[9]

MinterEllison provides pro bono legal assistance through bodies including Justice Connect, QPILCH, Public Interest Advocacy Centre, ACT Pro Bono Clearing House and the Law Society of Western Australia.[10] It also participates in the New South Wales Expert Advice Exchange,[11] and a number of social enterprises including the Mwembe Foundation, the FOCUS women's leadership program and the Third Link Growth Fund.[12]

Flexible working arrangements

MinterEllison provides a range of flexible working arrangements, seeking to address the legal industry's reputation for long hours and lack of flexibility. These include options for staff to take up to four additional weeks of annual leave per year, parental leave, and part-time and working from home arrangements. A particular focus is on encouraging lawyers at senior levels to take leave and breaks from their career for family and other responsibilities.[13][14][15] MinterEllison's Flex contract lawyer business also provides an alternative to full-time employment at the firm.[16]

News and blogs associated with MinterEllison

Innovative office spaces

In 2015, MinterEllison moved into new premises at the Governor Macquarie Tower in Sydney. The new offices are designed to be an open and collaborative environment, with a variety of purpose designed spaces. Innovations include electronic "sit to stand" settings on desks and a community workspace including several collaboration zones. Similar redesigns are planned for Perth, Brisbane and Canberra and Melbourne.[17][18]

Recognition

'Top Tier'

MinterEllison and its lawyers are highly ranked in legal directories such as Chambers Asia Pacific and The Legal 500: Asia Pacific in jurisdictions in which the firm operates – Australia, China and Mongolia. The firm has the second highest number of ranked practice areas of any law firm in Chambers Asia-Pacific 2016,[19] and a Lawyers Weekly survey of Australian lawyers found that MinterEllison is in the top three most sought-after legal employers in Australia.[20]

Practice areas where the firm has achieved Top Tier status include Banking & Finance: Property Finance, Government, International Trade / WTO, Insurance, Investment Funds, Restructuring and Insolvency, and Technology, Media & Telecommunications.[21]

Recent awards

Recent awards won by MinterEllison include:

Significant legal work

MinterEllison is one of the top five law firms in Australia for M&A advisory activity in 2015.[28] MinterEllison is known for its work in high-profile mergers and acquisitions, including the long-term leasing by the Government of New South Wales of the ports of Newcastle, Botany and Kembla;[29] the A$1.14 billion joint takeover of Aquila Resources Limited[30] by Boasteel Resources Australia Pty Ltd and Aurizon Operations Limited; and the sale by Lloyds Banking Group plc[31] of its Australian asset finance business, Capital Finance Australia Ltd (CFAL), and its corporate loan portfolio, BOS International Australia Ltd (BOSI), to Westpac Banking Corporation for approximately A$1.55 billion in total.

Associated firm in New Zealand

References

  1. ↑ http://www.minterellison.com/offices. Retrieved 6 July 2015
  2. ↑ "Australian independent Minter Ellison returns to growth with 2 per cent turnover rise | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Australian independent Minter Ellison returns to growth with 2 per cent turnover rise | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  4. ↑ ALB. (2010.) ALB30 Australasia's largest firms.
  5. 1 2 "Minter Ellison multiplies beyond lawyers | Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "MinterEllison 'Flex's' muscle with new contract lawyer entity | Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Philip Simpson: Land was the calling of a highflying lawyer". Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 21 April 2008.
  8. ↑ New South Wales Young Lawyers and the National Pro Bono Resource Centre. (2008.) Pro Bono Practices: A guide to the pro bono practices of NSW’s largest law firms, New South Wales Young Lawyers and the National Pro Bono Resource Centre.
  9. ↑ "Minter Ellison revenue up despite ‘patchy market conditions’ | Lawyers Weekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 13 November 2015.
  10. ↑ "Annual Report FY2014 | Minter Ellison" (PDF). minterellison.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  11. ↑ "Law firms sign onto pro bono one-stop-shop | Australasian Lawyer". australasianlawyer.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Annual Report FY2014 | Minter Ellison". minterellison.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "Flexibility works out both ways | The Australian". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  14. ↑ "Anthony Lloyd raises bar as stay-at-home dad | The Australian". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  15. ↑ "MinterEllison M&A leader says she's no Marissa Mayer| Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  16. ↑ "MinterEllison 'Flex's' muscle with new contract lawyer entity | Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "Hearsay: Minters trendy move | Financial Review". afr.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  18. ↑ "Firm moves to newly minted offices | LawyersWeekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  19. ↑ "Top legal firms widen gap with the rest | The Australian". theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  20. ↑ "Exclusive: top 25 attraction firms revealed | Lawyers Weekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  21. ↑ See http://www.chambersandpartners.com/guide/asia/8/23/1 and http://www.legal500.com/c/australia.
  22. ↑ "FT Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia 2015 | FT". live.ft.com. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  23. ↑ "BT takes top prize at Insurance Awards | Australian Banking & Finance". AB+F. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  24. ↑ "Minter Ellison is named ‘Insurance Law Firm of the Year 2014’ at AB F Insurance Awards | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  25. ↑ "Top Aussie legal employers revealed | Australasian Lawyer". australiasianlawyer.com.au. Retrieved 28 October 2015.
  26. ↑ "China Business Law recognises Minter Ellison for energy, projects and infrastructure work | The Lawyer". thelawyer.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  27. ↑ "Client Service Award Australia | Chambers & Partners". chambersandpartners.com. Retrieved 7 July 2015.
  28. ↑ "International firms dominate M&A in Australasia | Lawyers Weekly". lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 10 February 2016.
  29. ↑ See 'Port of Newcastle winners tabled $1.75bn knockout bid', AFR, 1 May 2014; ' $3bn expected as Port Botany bids reviewed by lawyers', AFR, 9 April 2013
  30. ↑ Announcement by Aquila Resources to The Australian Stock Exchange, 5 May 2014.
  31. ↑ See 'Minters, Freehills, advise on Lloyds deal', Lawyers Weekly, 11 June 2012.

External links

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