Herbert Smith Freehills

Experienced lawyer Joe Longo, whose past clients range from fallen 1980's entrepreneurs to global banks, has been appointed chair of the corporate watchdog.

Perth’s largest law firm will be led by a woman for the first time, with Elizabeth Macknay appointed office managing partner of Herbert Smith Freehills.

There has been plenty of change during the past year in Perth’s legal fraternity, which is enjoying healthy trade.

There has been some notable progress for women in law, but they have come off a low base.

International engineering company DRA Global has pressed the button on its long-anticipated ASX float, after a major ownership restructure earlier this year.

Gascoyne Resources is set to extend the life of its Dalgaranga operations near Mt Magnet through an all-scrip purchase of Firefly Resources, whose assets include a nearby gold project.

ASX-listed Empired is being acquired by Capgemini Australia, which has offered to pay $1.35 in cash for every share held in the IT firm.

Oil Search has rejected a Santos merger bid valuing the joint entity at $22 billion, revealed one day after Oil Search’s chief executive resigned.

Herbert Smith Freehills has signed a deal to relocate its offices from QV1 along St Georges Terrace to One The Esplanade at Elizabeth Quay, once construction is complete.

Woodside has confirmed plans to merge with BHP’s oil and gas business, with the new $40 billion entity to be led by Meg O’Neill.

South32 is set to acquire a 45 per cent stake in the Sierra Gorda copper mine in Chile in a deal valued at up to $2.8 billion.

Perth nickel company IGO has continued to push its clean energy strategy confirming it will acquire rival Western Areas in an all cash takeover, ending months of speculation.

“It has been a busy year and it continues to be,” is how Simon Reed describes current market conditions in Western Australia.

IGO’s proposed acquisition of Western Areas has hit a snag amid claims that an independent report prompted the WSA board to potentially reconsider its endorsement of the $3.36 per share offer.

Perth’s top law firms open up on the extraordinary wave of partner poaching that is reshaping the sector.

Companies have an opportunity to attract talent with improved parental leave policies.

The international architecture firm has added to its team of Perth principals by adding Ian Png from its Shanghai firm.

The world's biggest goldminer, NYSE-listed Newmont Corp, has proposed buying Australia's largest producer in an all-scrip offer at a 21 per cent premium.

Pantoro and Tulla Resources have announced plans for an all-scrip merger of the companies to consolidate ownership of the Norseman gold project in the state's Eastern Goldfields.

Engineering services firm SRG Global is set to buy ALS subsidiary Asset Care for $80 million by raising $51 million in new equity, as it reports an upswing in half-yearly revenue and profit.

The multinational law firm committed to a 12-year lease at Brookfield’s newly-built One The Esplanade.

The wealth management firm will relocate to the St Georges Terrace tower, marking the first major leasing transaction since Chevron’s exit.

Leaders from some of Perth’s major professional services firms have seen big changes in their working lives over three decades.

Menopause advocacy organisations want to destigmatise women’s health issues in the workplace.

The green energy transition is seen as one of the largest opportunities for WA law firms, with two mid-tier players leading the way.

Spartan Resources has received firm commitments to raise $25 million through an institutional placement to expand exploration at its Dalgaranga gold project.

BCI Minerals has secured a syndicated facility agreement for its Mardie salt project near Karratha, with nearly $1 billion locked in for the under-construction asset.

ASX-listed Genmin will ask investors for $28.3 million, as the company aims to primarily cover corporate and operation costs across its flagship Baniaka project in Gabon.

Major law firms in Perth are increasing their graduate intake as they enjoy strong demand for their services.

Driven by hungry investment banks and 160 years of trade history, Japan’s cultural and financial muscle is embedded in many WA industries.

Herbert Smith Freehills Perth partner Ante Golem has been named the global law firm’s dispute resolution lead for Australia.

Our weekly appointments wrap includes Dale Page, Eugene Koltasz, Francesca Lefante, Clayton Higham, Karen Hyde, Mark Fitzpatrick, Gordon Trewern, Ante Golem and Karen Brown.

A merger between Herbert Smith Freehills and US-based firm Kramer Levin to form Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer is on the cards, a move they claim will make them a top 20 global firm.

Japanese giant Sumitomo Metal Mining has forked out $615m for a stake in Rio Tinto’s big Western Australian copper discovery.

BGC Australia has announced its largest asset sale, with its cementitious division being sold to industry heavyweight Cement Australia in a deal worth close to $800 million.

Four major M&A deals last year highlighted Japan’s continued appetite for WA investments.