Clifford Chance > Sydney, Australia > Firm Profile

Clifford Chance > The Legal 500 Rankings

Australia > Dispute resolution: arbitration Tier 1

Clifford Chance is recognised as a strong force in the international arbitration practice, both in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region, with the firm having a dedicated investor-state arbitration practice, as well as experience in international commercial arbitration. The team is regularly involved in elements of international arbitrations that are originated by other offices within the firm’s networks. Kate Apostolova joined as an international partner in 2024 from Mayer Brown, with expertise in cross-border commercial arbitration and international litigation matters, and has an established reputation in Singapore and Hong Kong. Cameron Hassall is active in commercial cross-border litigation and arbitration, while Spencer Flay has helped mediate, arbitrate and litigate disputes across the globe. Julia Dreosti and Robert Tang were both promoted to partner in May 2024, with Tang being a specialist in arbitration and litigation in construction and infrastructure as well as TMT sectors, while Dreosti’s experience extends to contentious matters across the aerospace and defence sectors. Joshua Banks, based in Perth, is recommended for arbitration proceedings under ICSID, ICC, SIAC, UNCITRAL and LCIA.

Australia > Project finance Tier 2

Australia > Banking and finance Tier 3

Clifford Chance LLP is highly-regarded for its work concerning leveraged finance, acquisition finance, and project finance (particularly within the infrastructure and renewables sectors). The team also advises a plethora of clients on the full range of financial products in the banking space. Elizabeth Hundt Russell regularly receives instructions from financial institutions, major corporate clients, and private equity firms concerning acquisition and leveraged finance matters. Richard Gordon has expertise acting for both lenders and borrowers in acquisition, project, and infrastructure transactions. LIBOR transition mandates regularly fall under Chad Bochan's purview. Mark Gillgren is adept with challenging international transactions, debt restructurings, and insolvency matters.

Australia > Capital markets

Australia > Corporate and M&A Tier 3

Clifford Chance offers comprehensive support to sponsors at every stage of the investment life cycle, from acquisition financing to investments and exits. The team’s expertise is often tapped by clients investing in or acquiring assets within the energy and infrastructure sectors. Mark Currell is highly sought after for his skill in navigating complex, cross-border transactions. Public and private M&A, restructuring and capital raising are key pillars of David Clee’s active practice. Nadia Kalic enhances the team with her deep understanding of infrastructure and projects.

Australia > Dispute resolution: litigation Tier 3

Clifford Chance’s litigation and dispute resolution practice specialises in multi-jurisdictional litigation, as well as regulatory investigations across the world. In particular, team members are skilled in ‘business critical’ litigation, acting for a range of clients, including corporates, professional advisers and individuals, in litigation in the Federal and Supreme Courts in Australia and in international courts. Spencer Flay handles litigation within projects and construction, and Naomi Griffin is experienced in commercial litigation and parliamentary enquiries. Donna Wacker is regarded for her work acting for financial institutions and individuals in large-scale, cross-border litigation, including audit negligence claims, and Julia Dreosti handles cross-border litigation in a variety of sectors, including aerospace and defence. Alexandra Zhu is noted for her litigation expertise in the energy, natural resources and infrastructure industries, as well as leading the REACH (Race Equality and Celebrating Heritage) Network in Australia.

Australia > Energy (transactions and regulatory) Tier 3

The energy and natural resources team at Clifford Chance has a range of expertise across oil and gas, mining, resources, and renewable energy. In Sydney, team co-head Nadia Kalic specialises in M&A and projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors, while head of renewables Philip Sealey works out of Perth and is recommended for international project financing. Robert Tang, Sydney, is the go-to for energy sector disputes, handling complex international arbitration and litigation.

Australia > Competition and trade Tier 4

The Clifford Chance competition team's 'knowledge, expertise, clear and pragmatic advice sets it apart from its competitors', working alongside its global colleagues to support clients through M&A transactions, regulatory investigations, and cartel matters. Sydney-based Elizabeth Richmond heads the team, a go-to for antitrust litigation including class actions. Dual-qualified New York lawyer Mark Grime is recommended for his enforcement and mergers experience.

Australia > Natural resources (transactions and regulatory) Tier 4

Clifford Chance is well-known for its experience in handling international transactions across the oil, gas, mining, resources, and renewable energy sectors. Nadia Kalic is recommended for her expertise in infrastructure projects. Philip Sealey is a key contact for matters involving the project financing of large-scale renewable energy initiatives. Robert Tang is experienced in acting in litigation and disputes within the resources sector.

Australia > Transport: shipping Tier 4

Clifford Chance handles a steady stream of work including advisory support and dispute resolution in the shipping and maritime sectors. Arbitrations, multi-jurisdictional litigation, investigations, and judicial review are regular features of the group’s workload. Team head Pat Saraceni combines a keen understanding of dispute resolution strategy with deep industry knowledge of the maritime and oil and gas sectors.

Australia > White-collar crime Tier 4

Clifford Chance's offering is led by a consortium of 'excellent lawyers', Donna Wacker, Stephanie Huts, Naomi Griffin, and Robert Tang, who regularly represent a wide range of clients including senior executives, corporations, and businesses. Risk management, due diligence, and regulatory investigations are among the team’s key strengths. Alexandra Zhu is another key contact in the team, assisting with alleged extortion cases.

Australia > Restructuring and insolvency Tier 5

Based within the firms wider global financial markets practice, the team at Clifford Chance is led by Perth-based Mark Gillgren, who boasts particular experience in complex financial transactions. Advising on operational restructuring, voluntary administration, and secured claims are among the teams key strengths. Nikki Smythe is a key contact for distressed debt and restructuring work, having joined from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in early 2024.

Hong Kong > Fintech and financial services regulatory

Asia Pacific: Regional International Arbitration > Leading firms

Clifford Chance’s arbitration practices across Asia-Pacific demonstrate notable strength across locations, with key expertise across Australia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. In Australia, English and New York-qualified Kate Apostolova, newly joined from Mayer Brown ‘s Singapore office in 2024, joining Cameron Hassall and Spencer Flay  are prominent in cross-border disputes. Lei Shi , the managing partner for the Beijing and Shanghai offices, handles high-stakes joint venture and contract disputes, divides her time between Mainland China and Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s team is led by Thomas Walsh, who is also well-connected in South Korea.  In Singapore, Nish Shetty and Paul Sandosham co-head a team with expertise in large-scale infrastructure and energy disputes, with Kabir Singh another key contact.

Hong Kong > Dispute resolution: litigation

Harnessing four decades of on-the-ground experience in the Hong Kong litigation market, Clifford Chance continues to hold its position in high-value, multijurisdictional commercial litigation, financial services and white collar litigation and contentious IP and tech matters. Team head Ling Ho excels in IP and tech disputes, whilst Donna Wacker is established particularly in contentious insolvency disputes, and Soo Khim Keoy handles commercial disputes with a particular focus on corporate and commercial litigation, shareholders, joint venture and M&A disputes. Yvonne Shek practices in a broad range of commercial dispute litigation across multiple jurisdictions and Stephanie Wong is also recommended for defending financial institutions and corporates.

China > Real estate and construction: foreign firms

Clifford Chance LLP's team draws on the bench strength of the firm’s global financial markets in order to assist clients with real estate funds work. The group is also well known for working closely with the gaming and lodging practice, and as such has a solid track record in handling real estate-related M&A, finance, and joint ventures, as well as high-end real estate conveyancing matters. Hong Kong-based Amy Ho brings expertise in corporate real estate issues; she co-heads the department with Mark Currell, who is based in Sydney and is a key point of contact for private equity clients. Matthias Feldmann divides his time between Hong Kong and Singapore, and regularly acts for REITs and real estate investors.

Hong Kong > Real estate

Team members at Clifford Chance are often instructed by clients looking to invest in Hong Kong real estate and seeking a practice with a great deal of experience acting in Hong Kong and China-based real estate transactions. Practitioners continue to assist with precedent-setting real estate development work, and in 2024 assisted with the first beach resort to be undertaken by Wynn Resorts globally. This relies on practitioners such as Amy Ho who has a vast knowledge of the Hong Kong real estate sector and leads the team alongside Sydney-based Mark Currell. Hong Kong office managing partner Dauwood Malik is key for syndicated finance in relation to real estate, and the wider group is known for regularly acting on matters with the firm’s standout banking and finance practice.