John is a senior corporate lawyer with more than 30 years’ experience advising on major projects, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, corporate governance, and corporate and securities law, with a focus on large and complex transactions, public markets mergers and acquisitions and equity capital markets.
He has extensive transactional experience with the energy and resources sector, but has advised across many of the sectors most important to the Australian economy including technology, resources, agribusiness, infrastructure, transport, and financial services, and has advised Australian and international corporates and investment funds, governments and government business enterprises, and family offices.
He has a particular interest in energy technology including energy storage and developments in hydrogen-related energy technology, having advised the SA Government on the Hornsdale Power Reserve “Big Battery” at Jamestown, South Australia and led the Johnson Winter & Slattery team advising the SA Government generally on its energy plan following the September 2016 State-wide blackout, including grants and loans by the Renewable Technology Fund.
He is currently a member of the Expert Panel advising the Australian Prime Minister’s Deregulation Task Force in relation to modernising business communications.
John was a member of the Australian Takeovers Panel from 2006 to 2015 and a member of the Companies Auditors & Liquidators Disciplinary Board from 2004 to 2014.
John has been a Director of SA Government technology agency TechInSA, Chair of the Council of Prince Alfred College, National Chair of the Corporations Committee of the Law Council of Australia, and Chair of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia. He was also a Director, and is currently an Honorary Life Member, of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia (formerly the Securities Institute of Australia).
He has been a member of the Executive of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia from 2005 to 2007 and 2009 to date, was the inaugural Chair of Business Law Section’s Technology in M&A Working Group. John has a particular interest in the application of technology and project management to corporate transactions.
Acting in relation to Viterra Inc.'s acquisition by $2.1 billion scrip and cash scheme of arrangement.
Advised on the reconstruction of the Centro group involving the aggregation of Centro funds (equity value in excess of $3 billion) and restructure of Centro Properties' over $3 billion in senior debt.
Advised on the $2.3 billion acquisition of ConnectEast Group by trust scheme.
Advised on the $2.4 billion takeover by Cheung Kong Consortium, and on APA’s $2.1 billion proposed merger by scheme of arrangement.
Advised on the $200 million acquisition by CHAMP by a scheme of arrangement.
Advised on its $187 million capital raising by way of private placement plus share purchase plan.
Advised on its $130 million private placement and $32.5 million share purchase plan; and advised on its $111 million capital raising by way of undocumented rights issue.
Advised on its $177 million ASX listing, including $85 million in underwritten new equity, including corporate restructure and refinancing.
Energy Plan Projects, including 270MW Emergency Generation, 100 MW Battery (world’s largest grid connected battery - constructed), 150MW Solar Thermal Project (world’s largest - announced), Virtual Power Plant, Government-wide Power and Gas Procurement, various projects financed from SA Renewable Technology Fund.
Build, Own, Operate (BOO) arrangement for Wastewater Treatment Project at Aldinga, SA.
Construction and private financing of new Mount Gambier Public Hospital.
Named lawyer of the year in corporate/governance practice
Named lawyer of the year for equity capital markets law
Brilliant advice.... clear, well-reasoned and practical
Named lawyer of the year for mergers and acquisitions law
Recommended in capital markets, natural resources, corporate mergers & acquisitions law
Named lawyer of the year in corporate law
Ranked as a leading lawyer in corporate/mergers & acquistions
John Keeves heads the team and is valued for his extensive "exposure to complex M&A matters" and his sensible approach to matters, which "buries the ego and unnecessary mumbo-jumbo"
Practice head John Keeves has over 20 years' experience in this space, which is "valuable in assisting us to plan adequately and execute efficiently"
Recognised in oil and gas, corporate, corporate/governance practice, energy, equity capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, mining and venture capital law
The Takeovers Panel’s decision in AusNet Services Limited 01 [2021] ATP 9 has drawn comment from a number of quarters. In essence, in AusNet the Panel decided that an eight week exclusivity...
From 1 November 2021, Directors of various entities registered under the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) will need to obtain a unique Director ID number. The Director ID’s purpose is to...
Permanent measures introduced into Parliament for corporate on-line meetings, electronic notices and execution of documents.