Further big boost to Corrs’ M&A capability

22 February 2010

---

Corrs has acquired another team of top Corporate M&A partners, further strengthening its national M&A and capital markets practice, as well as the firm's capability in the Perth legal market.

The appointments of Robert Franklyn, Christian Owen and Russell Philip in Corrs’ Perth office reinforce the firm's national and international expertise in the resources sector and its ability to service increasing demand from inbound investment in Australia, particularly from Asia.

Robert Franklyn is one of Perth’s leading M&A lawyers. He has more than 20 years experience working on high profile transactions. Robert was a partner of Freehills for nine years and was the head of Freehills' Perth M&A and fundraising section for seven years. He left Freehills in late 2004 to establish Franklyn Legal.

Christian Owen and Russell Philip have worked closely with Robert since 2005 as partners of Franklyn Legal. Both partners have previously worked with top tier firms - Christian at Clayton Utz and Linklaters, Russell at Freehills.

The team has advised on major transactions such as Murchison Metals' proposed $3 billion merger with Midwest Corporation Limited, the redomicile of Mineral Securities Limited to British Virgin Islands and merger with London Stock Exchange listed Scarborough Minerals Limited and the combined company’s subsequent merger with CopperCo Limited, Emperor Mines' sale of its 20% interest in the Porgera Gold Mine in PNG to Barrick Gold Corporation, and DRDGold Ltd's sale of its Australasian mining operations to Emperor Mines.

Short Profiles

Robert Franklyn

Robert has extensive experience and expertise in a wide range of corporate transactions including advising on mergers and acquisitions, acquisition strategies and defences, corporate reconstructions, equity fundraising, schemes of arrangement, venture capital investment and general corporate compliance. He specialises in the industrial, mining, technology and biomedical sectors and has advised numerous local and international mining clients on major M&A transactions.

Russell Philip

Russell specialises in advising both public and private companies on a wide variety of corporate transactions, including public and private M&A, Takeovers Panel issues, foreign investment matters, fundraisings (including equity capital markets, private equity and venture capital), corporate reconstructions, capital management and general corporate and compliance matters. He has significant experience in the mining, mining services, technology and financial services industries.

Christian Owen

Christian specialises in advising on all aspects of mergers and acquisitions, fundraising and other forms of financing, private equity and venture capital investments, managed investment schemes, capital management, corporate governance and regulatory compliance. He advises both public and private companies and managed investment schemes in a range of industries including mining, agribusiness, property investment and financial services.