Jonathan is a trusted, pragmatic commercial adviser who likes to help his clients achieve their strategic business objectives. Jonathan has been a corporate and commercial lawyer for over 30 years.
Jonathan advises private and listed companies, investors, fund managers, not-for-profits and individual directors on corporate transactions and investments, corporate governance, directors’ duties and business contracts. He has advised clients in a broad range of sectors, including biotechnology, energy, financial services, ICT, manufacturing, payment solutions, private equity, professional services and venture.
Jonathan is based in Melbourne.
Expertise
- Business contracts
- Capital management
- Capital raising and IPOs
- Corporate banking facilities
- Corporate governance
- Due diligence, risk identification and risk management
- Employee share plans
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Shareholder alignment and shareholders’ agreements
- Venture capital and private equity
Experience
- Advised on mergers and acquisitions in many sectors, including energy, financial services, manufacturing, payment solutions, private health insurance, professional services and retail
- Advised listed and unlisted companies on IPOs, rights issues, placements and share buy-backs
- Advised mid-market private equity and venture capital funds on investments and exits
- Advised fund managers on structuring funds and investments in listed and unlisted companies, including advice on the ASX listing rules, insider trading, disclosure of holdings, takeovers and compulsory acquisitions
- Advised companies on significant commercial contracts with government agencies and major suppliers and customers
- Acted as outsourced de facto inhouse Counsel for a number of key clients
- Advised the Victorian State government on gas market reform and privatisation
Recognition
- Recommended in the 2013 and 2014 editions of The Legal 500 Asia Pacific for Corporate and M&A
- Recommended in Chambers Asia Pacific in 2013 and 2014 for Private Equity
- Recommended Private Equity lawyer in Chambers Asia 2013 with clients commenting “he’s never ruffled – you can ring any time and he always sounds calm. The level of service from Jonathan is excellent.”
- Recommended as a leading corporate lawyer in Doyle’s Guide 2013 and 2014
- Highly recommended in Asialaw Profiles 2014 and 2015
- Recognised by Best Lawyers for Mergers and Acquisitions Law in 2014 and 2015
Jonathan’s qualifications and associations include:
- Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)
- Australian Legal Practitioner
- Admitted as a barrister in England and Wales
- Diploma of Law (City University, London)
- MA (Philosophy) with honours (Edinburgh University)
Career
| 2020 | Keypoint Law | Consulting Principal |
| 2016-2020 | Linchpin Legal | Director |
| 2003-2014 | Maddocks | Partner |
| 1996-2003 | Freehills (now Herbert Smith Freehills) | Partner |
| 1987-1996 | Berwin Leighton (now Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner) | Lawyer |