Matthew Shanahan Partner

Matt is a tax lawyer with over 23 years of professional experience, gained in leading international professional services and law firms, and a leading infrastructure advisory team of an international investment bank.

Matt mainly advises large corporate clients on infrastructure, M&A, property, funds management, banking, tax disputes and international tax matters.

Matt regularly presents at major industry body events and guest lectures in the University of Sydney’s Master of Laws program on asset-based finance.

Experience

Infrastructure

Transport

Advised on the Sydney Metro project, the Sunshine Coast Airport privatisation, the Melbourne Metro Project, the East-West Link Project cancellation, the Cranbourne-Pakenham Rail Corridor Extension Project, the Gold Coast University Hospital Carpark, and the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Project.

Justice

Advised on the New Grafton Correctional Centre Project, the Ravenhall Prison project, the Darwin Correctional Centre Project, Wiri Prison, and the SA Courts Precinct Project (which also included a large commercial building).

Hospitals

Advised on the Royal North Shore Hospital Project, the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Project and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital Project.

Stadium

Advised on the acquisition of a major stake in the Optus Stadium Project.

Student accommodation

Advised on the James Cook University Student Accommodation Project and the University of Wollongong Student Accommodation Project.

Schools

Advised on the South Australian Schools Project and the South-East Queensland Schools Project.

Waste management

Advised on the Kimbriki Waste Management Facility Project and the Kwinana Waste-to-Energy Plant Project.

Renewable energy

Advised the Australian Renewable Energy Agency in respect of the solar grant applications in 2013 and 2016, advised on the establishment of the New Energy Solar Fund, and have advised many major renewable energy clients in respect of the development of, and acquisition and sale of stakes in, various renewable energy projects.

M&A

Quiksilver

Advised on the acquisition of all of the shares in Billabong International Limited, and subsequent restructuring of the business in Asia, the Americas and Europe.

CIMIC

Advised on various corporate transactions, including the acquisition of Sedgman Limited.

Boral

Advised on their joint ventures with USG, Inc and CSR Limited.

Career & qualifications

Qualifications

  • Master of Laws, University of Sydney
  • Bachelor of Laws (Hons), University of Technology Sydney
  • Bachelor of Business (Distinction), University of Technology Sydney
  • Guest lecturer, University of Sydney Master of Laws program
  • Chartered Tax Adviser, Taxation Institute of Australia
  • Registered Tax Agent
  • Notary Public
  • ASIC Registered Agent

Memberships and Associations

  • Law Society of New South Wales
  • Law Society of South Australia
  • High Court of Australia
  • Taxation Institute of Australia
  • Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand
  • Infrastructure Partnerships Australia

Insights Read more insight

Investment belts tightened under new thin capitalisation measures

Five weeks after Treasury’s release of exposure draft legislation to amend the thin capitalisation rules, as announced in 2023 Federal Budget (Exposure Draft), the Treasury Laws Amendment (Making...

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International Comparative Legal Guide: Public Investment Funds 2022

Partners Austin Bell and Matthew Shanahan have written the Australian chapter for the International Comparative Legal Guide: Public Investment Funds 2022.

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Corporate Collective Investment Vehicles - new regime now live

The Corporate Collective Investment Vehicle Framework and Other Measures Bill 2021 (Cth) (CCIV Bill) received Royal Assent on 22 February 2022. The CCIV Bill sets out the regulatory and tax...

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