Corrs Chambers Westgarth (often referred to as Corrs) is an Australian commercial law firm[4][5] founded in 1841.[6] Corrs has offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Port Moresby.[7][8]
 | |
| Headquarters | Quay Quarter Tower 50 Bridge Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia[1] |
|---|---|
| No. of offices | 5 |
| No. of lawyers | 600+ |
| Major practice areas | Commercial law |
| Key people | |
| Revenue |  AUD$454.8 million (2024)[3] |
| Date founded | 1841 |
| Company type | Partnership |
| Website | www |
Corrs' clients include national and international corporations, governments, banks and financial sponsors.[9]
History
editCorrs Chambers Westgarth has its roots in the pre-gold rush days of Melbourne, dating back to when law firm Whiting and Byrne was formed in 1841.[10] In 1883, Norton Smith Westgarth and Sanders was established in Sydney, followed two years later by Brisbane’s Chambers McNab and Co.[6]
These three firms are the foundations of Corrs Chambers Westgarth, which was formed in 1991 by the merger of Corrs Australian Solicitors, Westgarth Middletons (Sydney) and Chambers McNab Tully and Wilson (Brisbane and Gold Coast). Corrs Australian Solicitors was formed two years earlier (initially with the name Corrs) via the merger of Corrs Pavey Whiting and Byrne, Adelaide’s Mollison Litchfield and Perth’s Keall Brinsden (founded in 1910).[6]
Practice
editIn 2023, Corrs was named the Most Innovative Law Firm Headquartered in Asia-Pacific by the Financial Times.[11] In 2022, the firm was named Australian Law Firm of the year by Chambers Asia Pacific & Greater China Region.[12] That same year the firm was also named Law Firm of the Year, 2022 for Corporate Law by Best Lawyers, Australia.[13] In 2021, the firm was named Law Firm of the Year and Commercial Team of the Year at the Australian Law Awards.[14]
Corrs has undertaken pro bono and volunteer work, including advising Aboriginal man and artist, Harold Thomas, the owner of the copyright in the Australian Aboriginal flag, on the deal to assign copyright in the Flag to the Commonwealth Government.[15] The firm also acted on behalf of Mr Noel Zihabamwe, an Australian human rights activist, in relation to the enforced disappearance of his two brothers in Rwanda.[16]
Corrs is recognised for its depth of expertise across sectors including:[17]
- Energy & Resources
- Technology, Media & Telecommunications
- Financial Services
- Investment Funds & Private Equity
- Life Sciences
- Consumer & Retail
- Transport & Logistics
- Real Estate
- Construction & Infrastructure
- Food & Agribusiness
- Government
- Health & Aged Care
- Industrials & Manufacturing
Significant matters and deals
edit- Advised Coca-Cola European Partners on its acquisition of Coca-Cola Amatil, valued at A$11.1 billion[18]
- Advised TPG Telecom on all aspects of the ten-year network sharing agreement with Telstra[19]
- Advised Tritium on its A$1.2 billion merger with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation II and subsequent listing on the Nasdaq[20]
- Advised BGH Capital on the establishment of Australia’s largest private equity fund[21]
- Advised Anchorage Capital Partners on the acquisition of iconic Australian department store David Jones[22]
- Advised the Rinehart family’s company in relation to multiple claims being brought by two family members and two commercial third parties, worth more than A$10 billion[23]
Corrs Alumni
editThe following list includes people who have worked or consulted for Corrs Chambers Westgarth:
- The Justice Michael Barker, former Federal Court judge of Australia.
- Andrew Bassat, CEO and co-founder of SEEK.
- John Dahlsen, former director of ANZ Bank.
- John Denton AO, secretary general and board member of the International Chamber of Commerce, and former diplomat.[24]
- Liz Ellis, former captain of the Australian national netball team.[25]
- David Flavell,[26] Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary PepsiCo
- Peter Grey, independent non-executive chairman of MLC Life Insurance, former CEO of the Australian Trade Commission and former ambassador to Japan.[27]
- Kim Hargrave, Supreme Court judge of Victoria.
- Joe Hockey, Australia’s former ambassador to the United States of America (2016-2020), and former treasurer of Australia (2013-2015).[28]
- Michael Lee, Federal Court judge, and former director of the Bell Shakespeare Company.[29]
- Rod McGeoch, CEO of the Sydney Olympics 2000 bid, director of Ramsay Health Care, Non-Executive Chairman of Chubb Insurance and Former president of the Law Society of New South Wales.
- Derek Volker retired senior Australian public servant
- Allan Myers, renowned Australian QC (current), chancellor of Melbourne University, and currently ranked on the Australian Financial Review Rich List.[30]
- Geoff Raby, former ambassador to China.[31]
- Justice Iain Ros, president of the Fair Work Commission, and Federal Court judge of Australia.[32]
- John Storey, former chancellor of the University of Queensland, former chairman of Suncorp and Tabcorp.
- Bernard Teague, former Supreme Court judge of Victoria[33]
References
edit- ^ Company Overview of Corrs Chambers Westgarth
- ^ a b "Australia's Corrs Chambers Westgarth Reappoints Managing Partner for Seven Years". Law.com International. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
- ^ "Corrs Chambers Westgarth - Australian Company Profile". IbisWorld. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
- ^ The Legal 500 (2021). "Legal market overview in Australia | Law firm and lawyer rankings from The Legal 500 Asia Pacific guide". www.legal500.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
Generally, the 'Big Six' firms – Allens [partnered with] Linklaters, Herbert Smith Freehills, Ashurst, King & Wood Mallesons, Clayton Utz, and Minter Ellison [...] Other major firms: Corrs Chambers Westgarth and Gilbert + Tobin have also had solid years, [...] across the Asia-Pacific region.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Chambers and Partners. "Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Asia-Pacific | Chambers Profiles". chambers.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ a b c Lawyers Weekly (3 March 2012). "The making of a national firm: Corrs Chambers Westgarth". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
- ^ "Contact Us » Corrs Chambers Westgarth". www.corrs.com.au. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "PNG expansion a development play for Corrs Chambers Westgarth". Australian Financial Review. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- ^ The Legal 500 (2021). "Corrs Chambers Westgarth > Sydney > Australia | The Legal 500 law firm profiles". www.legal500.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Weekly, Lawyers; Reporter (3 March 2012). "The making of a national firm: Corrs Chambers Westgarth". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards 2023: the winners". Financial Times. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
- ^ "Chambers Asia Pacific & Greater China Region Awards 2022". Chambers Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
- ^ Best Lawyers (14 April 2021). "Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Australia". www.bestlawyers.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
- ^ "2021 Winners and Finalists". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
- ^ AusPBC. "Australian Pro Bono Centre | Story 2: Copyright in the Aboriginal Flag". Australian Pro Bono Centre. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
- ^ Bourke, Latika (20 June 2022). "Disappearances 'show Rwanda unfit to host Commonwealth summit'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
- ^ "Corrs Chambers Westgarth". Chambers and Partners. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
- ^ "Coca-Cola European Partners plc Announces Best and final offer to acquire Coca-Cola Amatil". Bloomberg.com. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Telco stoush about much more than who wins in the bush". Australian Financial Review. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Ulrich, Jack (26 May 2021). "Tritium to Go Public Through a Merger with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation II". Tritium. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "BGH Capital hits $3.6b hard cap for Fund II". Australian Financial Review. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Done deal: David Jones sold to PE investor Anchorage". Australian Financial Review. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "At $250k a day, battle of Perth billionaires is ultimate lawyers' picnic". Australian Financial Review. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "3 things we've learned about John W.H. Denton AO". ICC - International Chamber of Commerce. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Former Diamonds netball captain Liz Ellis AO on her journey to the boardroom - AICD". www.aicd.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ Flavell, David. "David Flavell - GC Powerlist". Legal 500. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
- ^ "Peter Grey". Australia Japan Business Co-operation Committee. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Welcome home, Joe Hockey". Australian Financial Review. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Professional Journeys: The Hon Michael Lee: Perspectives from a Leader in Legal Services". hcaustralia.clubs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ "Australia's richest lawyer". Australian Financial Review. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ Weekly, Lawyers; Reporter (3 March 2012). "Corrs snaps up outgoing ambassador to China". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
- ^ "Reserve Bank Board appointments | Treasury Ministers". ministers.treasury.gov.au. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
- ^ Whealing, Justin; Digital (3 September 2013). "Teague wins top award". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 21 November 2023.