Squire Patton Boggs has significantly expanded its Corporate Practice Group with the appointment of partner Simon Rear, who joins the firm’s Perth office with a team of lawyers from Allion Legal.
Mr. Rear has broad experience in private and public M&A, equity capital markets and general corporate advisory work in both Australia and the UK. He has advised in connection with takeovers, schemes of arrangement and private M&A transactions. He has also advised on a number of fundraisings including IPOs, rights issues and placements acting for both issuers and underwriters.
Mr. Rear spent four years working in London with Herbert Smith, where he advised corporates and investment banks including, amongst others, advising the underwriters on the US$ 15.2 billion rights issue by Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited and advising Lonmin plc on its successful defence of a £5.6 billion takeover by Xstrata plc.
Mr. Rear’s practice is focused on the hard rock resources and mining services industries, together with technology, insurance, financial services, property and industrial sectors.
Also joining Squire Patton Boggs’ Perth office are senior associate Chris Rosario and associates Ben Stewart and Pasan Wijesuriya. Mr. Rosario joined Allion in 2009 from Allens, and Mr. Stewart and Mr. Wijesuriya qualified at Allion Legal and have spent over three years with the firm.
John Poulsen, Australia managing partner of Squire Patton Boggs, said: “We have been looking to expand our Corporate practice in Perth, in terms of regulatory expertise and also from an energy and resources perspective. Simon and his team are the right strategic and cultural fit, and have an outstanding track record, particularly in major mining and natural resources transactions, and we are excited to welcome them to the firm.”
Commenting on his appointment, Simon Rear said: “I am delighted to join the firm at such an exciting point in its history, with its recent combination with Patton Boggs and substantial investment in Asia Pacific. The firm has one of the premier global platforms with extensive experience in all areas of corporate activity and I’m looking forward to playing a part in its continued development.”
Mr. Rear’s appointment follows Perth Corporate lawyer Clare Pope’s recent promotion to partner, and several additions to the firm’s Sydney Corporate team over the past year.
Squire Patton Boggs was “Highly Commended” for international strategy by the Financial Times at its inaugural Asia-Pacific Innovative Lawyers Awards 2014.
