Damian is a corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance.
Damian is recognised by both clients (Chambers & Partners, Legal 500) and peers (Best Lawyers) as one of the pre-eminent corporate/M&A lawyers in the country – one of a very small number of M&A lawyers with this degree of consistent recognition – and a leading dealmaker.
In addition to his M&A and corporate restructuring expertise, Damian is sought out by directors and senior executives to advise on directors’ duties, continuous disclosure and other corporate governance considerations, particularly where difficult issues have arisen.
Having established his reputation in M&A through the conception, design and implementation of SingTel’s $20 billion acquisition takeover of Cable & Wireless Optus in 2001 – still the largest successful scrip-based takeover in Australian corporate history – he has continued to guide relationship clients through sensitive and complex corporate transactions.
Work highlights
Horizon Roads
Bringing together a consortium of 8 large pension funds from 7 different jurisdictions and its $2.7 billion acquisition of ConnectEast Group via a trust scheme.
Gazal Corporation
$300m merger by scheme of arrangement with substantial shareholder and JV partner PVH Corp.
Tassal Group
Advising senior management on a $1.1b acquisition of Tassal by Cook Inc of Canada.
Technology Growth Capital (Potentia Capital)
Successful $580m takeover of Nitro Software, contested by Alludo (KKR).
Apache Group (MBO vehicle)
Acquisition of the Hudson Asia Pacific recruitment and talent management business from Hudson Global.
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Successful takeover bids for Arana Therapeutics and ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals.