Corrs Chambers Westgarth

Corrs Chambers Westgarth

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	Gavin MacLaren, Senior Partner and CEO [2] Stephen Price, Chairman [2]
Revenue	AUD$561.5 million (2024) [3]
Date founded	1841
Company type	Partnership
Website	www.corrs.com.au

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]}

Corrs' clients include national and international corporations, governments, banks and financial sponsors. ^[9]

History

Corrs 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]

Team

Across its offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Port Moresby, Corrs has a team of more than 1400 employees and over 750 lawyers. ^[11]

Gavin MacLaren has been the Senior Partner and CEO of Corrs Chambers Westgarth since 2018. He has been recognised as an Innovative Leader in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards Asia Pacific ^[12] and as a Band 1 lawyer across multiple jurisdictions in the major legal directories. He previously held senior partnership roles at Freshfields and Allens.

Significant matters and deals

Corrs has advised on a number of high-profile deals and matters including:

• Advised Saint-Gobain on its strategic acquisition of CSR Limited for A$4.3 billion ^[13]
• Advised Azure Minerals on its proposed joint acquisition by Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. and Hancock Prospecting for A$1.70 billion ^[14]
• Advised Coca-Cola European Partners on its acquisition of Coca-Cola Amatil, valued at A$11.1 billion ^[15]
• Advised TPG Telecom on all aspects of the ten-year network sharing agreement with Telstra ^[16]
• Advised Tritium on its A$1.2 billion merger with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation II and subsequent listing on the Nasdaq ^[17]
• Advised BGH Capital on the establishment of Australia's largest private equity fund ^[18]
• Advised Anchorage Capital Partners on the acquisition of iconic Australian department store David Jones ^[19]
• 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 ^[20]
• Advised Blackstone Alternative Asset Management on its launch of a fund for ANZ's high-net worth clients, targeting A$1 billion ^[21]
• Advised ACCIONA, COBRA, and Endeavour Energy (ACEREZ) consortium in groundbreaking renewable energy zone project in New South Wales ^[22]
• Advised the Australian Human Rights Institute on a project to support advancing human rights in the built environment ^[23]
• Acted pro bono alongside Colin Golvan AM QC for 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 ^[24]
• Acted pro bono alongside Doughty Street Chambers and the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute for Mr Noel Zihabamwe, an Australian human rights activist, in relation to the enforced disappearance of his two brothers in Rwanda ^[25]

Awards

Corrs has received national, regional, and global recognition, having won various accolades and awards:

• Corrs was named in Australasian Lawyer's Best Law Firms in Australia 2024 list ^[26]
• In 2024, the firm was named as a Leading Legal Advisor for M&A by MergerLinks in its Australia and New Zealand rankings ^[27]
• Corrs was named Law Firm of the Year – Competition Law in the 2024 Edition of Best Lawyers in Australia ^[28]
• In 2023, Corrs was named the Most Innovative Law Firm Headquartered in Asia-Pacific by the Financial Times ^[29]
• In 2022, the firm was named Australian Law Firm of the year by Chambers Asia Pacific & Greater China Region ^[30]
• The firm was named Law Firm of the Year, 2022 for Corporate Law by Best Lawyers, Australia ^[31]
• In 2021, the firm was named Law Firm of the Year and Commercial Team of the Year at the Australian Law Awards ^[32]
• Corrs won the award for innovation in Social Responsibility in the 2017 Financial Times Asia Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards ^[33]

Practice

In 2023, Corrs was named the Most Innovative Law Firm Headquartered in Asia-Pacific by the Financial Times. ^[34] In 2022, the firm was named Australian Law Firm of the year by Chambers Asia Pacific & Greater China Region. ^[35] That same year the firm was also named Law Firm of the Year, 2022 for Corporate Law by Best Lawyers, Australia. ^[36] In 2021, the firm was named Law Firm of the Year and Commercial Team of the Year at the Australian Law Awards. ^[37]

Corrs is recognised for its depth of expertise across sectors ^[38] including:

• 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

Notable employees

The following list includes people who have worked or consulted for Corrs Chambers Westgarth:

• Michael Barker, former Federal Court judge of Australia.
• Andrew Bassat, CEO and co-founder of SEEK. ^[39]
• Liz Ellis, former captain of the Australian national netball team. ^{[40] [41]}
• 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). ^[42]
• Michael Lee, Federal Court judge, and former director of the Bell Shakespeare Company. ^[43]
• Derek Volker, retired senior Australian public servant
• Allan Myers, Australian QC (current), chancellor of Melbourne University, and currently ranked on the Australian Financial Review Rich List. ^[44]
• Geoff Raby, former ambassador to China. ^[45]
• Justice Iain Ros, president of the Fair Work Commission, and Federal Court judge of Australia. ^[46]
• John Storey, former chancellor of the University of Queensland, former chairman of Suncorp and Tabcorp.
• Bernard Teague, former Supreme Court judge of Victoria ^[47]

References

1. Company Overview of Corrs Chambers Westgarth
2. "Australia's Corrs Chambers Westgarth Reappoints Managing Partner for Seven Years". Law.com International. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
3. "Corrs Chambers Westgarth - Australian Company Profile". IbisWorld. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
4. 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.
5. Chambers and Partners. "Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Asia-Pacific | Chambers Profiles". chambers.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
6. Lawyers Weekly (3 March 2012). "The making of a national firm: Corrs Chambers Westgarth". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
7. "Contact Us » Corrs Chambers Westgarth". www.corrs.com.au. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
8. "PNG expansion a development play for Corrs Chambers Westgarth". Australian Financial Review. 28 September 2017. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
9. The Legal 500 (2021). "Corrs Chambers Westgarth > Sydney > Australia | The Legal 500 law firm profiles". www.legal500.com. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
10. Weekly, Lawyers; Reporter (3 March 2012). "The making of a national firm: Corrs Chambers Westgarth". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
11. "Corrs Chambers Westgarth, Sydney Office, Asia-Pacific | Chambers". chambers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
12. "Gavin Maclaren | Corrs Chambers Westgarth | Corrs Chambers Westgarth". corrs.com.au. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
13. "Corrs advises Saint-Gobain on A$4.3 billion acquisition of CSR". Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
14. "Corrs advises Azure Minerals on its proposed A$1.70 billion acquisition by SQM and Hancock". Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
15. "Coca-Cola European Partners plc Announces Best and final offer to acquire Coca-Cola Amatil". Bloomberg.com. 14 February 2021. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
16. "Telco stoush about much more than who wins in the bush". Australian Financial Review. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
17. Ulrich, Jack (26 May 2021). "Tritium to Go Public Through a Merger with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation II". Tritium. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
18. "BGH Capital hits $3.6b hard cap for Fund II". Australian Financial Review. 1 March 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
19. "Done deal: David Jones sold to PE investor Anchorage". Australian Financial Review. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
20. "At $250k a day, battle of Perth billionaires is ultimate lawyers' picnic". Australian Financial Review. 26 July 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
21. "Corrs advises Blackstone on launch of Graphene 'alternatives' fund". Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
22. Announcement, Legal (27 December 2023). "Corrs Chambers Westgarth advises ACEREZ on pioneering renewable energy project". Solicitors Journal. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
23. "Dignity in the Built Environment with Corrs Chambers Westgarth".
24. AusPBC. "Australian Pro Bono Centre | Story 2: Copyright in the Aboriginal Flag". Australian Pro Bono Centre. Retrieved 20 June 2022.
25. Bourke, Latika (20 June 2022). "Disappearances 'show Rwanda unfit to host Commonwealth summit'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
26. "The Best Law Firms in Australia and New Zealand | Law Firms of the Year". www.thelawyermag.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
27. "Legal Advisors in Australia & New Zealand 2024". news.mergerlinks.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
28. "Announcing the 2024 Editions of The Best Lawyers in Australia and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia". Best Lawyers. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
29. "Financial Times names Corrs Most Innovative Law Firm in the Asia-Pacific region | Press Release | Chambers and Partners". chambers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
30. "Chambers names Corrs as Australian Law Firm of the Year | Press Release | Chambers and Partners". chambers.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
31. Lawyers, Best (14 April 2021). "Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Australi". Best Lawyers. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
32. Digital (2 December 2021). "2021 Australian Law Awards winners unveiled". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
33. "Australia - Corrs wins in 2017 Financial Times Asia Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards". www.mondaq.com. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
34. "Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards 2023: the winners". Financial Times. 5 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
35. "Chambers Asia Pacific & Greater China Region Awards 2022". Chambers Asia-Pacific. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
36. Best Lawyers (14 April 2021). "Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Australia". www.bestlawyers.com. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
37. "2021 Winners and Finalists". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
38. "Corrs Chambers Westgarth". Chambers and Partners. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
39. "Alumni interview: Andrew Bassat, CEO and Executive Chairman, SEEK Investments". Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
40. "Former Diamonds netball captain Liz Ellis AO on her journey to the boardroom - AICD". www.aicd.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
41. "Alumni interview: Liz Ellis, former captain of the Australian Diamonds and Corrs Alumna". Corrs Chambers Westgarth. Retrieved 18 December 2024.
42. "Welcome home, Joe Hockey". Australian Financial Review. 16 October 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
43. "Professional Journeys: The Hon Michael Lee: Perspectives from a Leader in Legal Services". hcaustralia.clubs.harvard.edu. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
44. "Australia's richest lawyer". Australian Financial Review. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
45. Weekly, Lawyers; Reporter (3 March 2012). "Corrs snaps up outgoing ambassador to China". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 29 June 2022.
46. "Reserve Bank Board appointments | Treasury Ministers". ministers.treasury.gov.au. 20 April 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
47. Whealing, Justin; Digital (3 September 2013). "Teague wins top award". www.lawyersweekly.com.au. Retrieved 21 November 2023.

External links

• Official website
• Firm profile at Chambers and Partners
• Firm profile at Legal 500 website