Gaelan Cooney, who acts as the firm’s Global mining chair, and Paul Lingard head up Ashurst’s team, which is known for its breadth, demonstrated by its ability to assist experienced producers, junior explorers, as well as banks and investors that provide funding to them. The group deals with a range of natural resources and critical minerals, such as lithium, rare earths and copper, and retains a presence in its clients’ projects from inception until end. The firm has recently bolstered the team through Lingard's arrival from Norton Rose Fulbright in August 2022. Contentious matters expert Catherine Pedler and project finance specialist associate Marina Tinning are standout practitioners in the team.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Ashurst were very proactive and timely in delivering advice to ensure that the company was in full compliance with the legislation and also advised on the commercial arrangements with the respective brokers. The engagement was over a very short period and hence the Ashurst team worked quickly and diligently to meet the required deadlines.’
‘The individual partners took it upon themselves to get actively involved in the transaction and deliver timely advice followed by prompt follow-up to ensure that nothing was missed. The manner in which they work was very efficient and friendly whilst providing good feedback on what actions were required to be undertaken to meet the deadline.’
Key clients
- Arafura Rare Earths
- Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility
Work highlights
- Advised Sibanye-Stillwater and Sibanye Australia (an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sibanye-Stillwater) on Sibanye Australia's unsolicited off-market takeover bid under Chapter 6 of the Corporations Act to acquire all of the ordinary shares in New Century for $1.10 cash per share.
- Advising Arafura Rare Earths on raising debt finance for the Nolans Project, a rare earths project located north of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.