Liam Hickey

Liam focuses on advising institutional investors – including private equity and venture capital funds, pension and superannuation funds, sovereign wealth funds and global asset managers - on a range of complex transactions globally. These include corporate transactions (including mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, venture capital and growth equity investments, and minority investments), fund transactions and investments (advising both general partners / managers and limited partners), and joint ventures, including complex consortium governance arrangements between institutional investors.

Since commencing at Baker McKenzie in 2021, Liam has worked on the following transactions:

M&A / Private Equity

• Advised OTPP on:

  • its substantial minority investment in GreenCollar, an Australian carbon markets project developer, alongside KKR;
  • the buy-out of GreenCollar from KKR and other existing shareholders (Deal of the Year – Asia Pacific at Agri Investor Awards 2023);
  • its joint venture investment in Spark Infrastructure, a holding vehicle with interests in various Australian electricity transmission and distribution companies (focus on complex consortium governance arrangements);
  • a strategic partnership with Mitolo Family Farms, one of Australia’s largest vertically integrated horticulture companies;
  • its investments in Pomona Valley, a platform of horticulture assets.

• Advised Norwest, a US based private equity fund, on:

• the acquisition of a strategic interest in Poolwerx, an Australian franchising business with business activities in Australia, the US and NZ;
• a strategic investment by Poolwerx in a pool supply retail business;
• a debt refinancing with an Australian direct lender; and
• various ongoing portfolio company matters.

• Advised EQT, a leading European private equity fund, on the disposal of its material minority investment in GPA to a Canadian pension fund through a competitive auction process.

• Advised Macquarie Asset Management in connection with its investment in AirTrunk (with a focus on complex consortium governance arrangements).

• Advised PSG, a US-based private equity fund, and SchoolStatus in respect of its add-on acquisition of Operoo, an Australia software company with operations in Australia, the US and the UK, and various portfolio company matters in connection with same.

• Advised a US multinational on its acquisition of an Australian defence technology business.

• Advised a leading Australian based renewable energy developer on its joint venture investment with a leading European renewable energy developer to bid for an offshore wind feasibility licence in Victoria, Australia.

• Advised a Canadian pension fund on its bid for an ASX and NZX dual-listed renewable energy platform.

• Advised Canadian pension funds on various bids for Australian forestry assets.

• Advised Australian-based global asset manager in connection with its bid for a portfolio of digital infrastructure assets.

• Advised portfolio companies of various US-based private equity funds on ongoing portfolio matters for Australian subsidiaries.

Venture Capital

• Advised Hysata, an Australian hydrogen technology company on:

• its Series A financing / capital raising (AUD 42.5 million);
• various SAFE investments;
• its Series B financing / capital raising (AUD 172 million) (one of the largest clean tech fundraisings in Australian history); and
• various ongoing commercial advice.

• Advised mRNA Victoria, a division of the Government of Victoria’s Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, on commercial arrangements in connection with the delivery of a state-of-the-art mRNA clinical-scale manufacturing facility at La Trobe University's Melbourne campus in Bundoora in conjunction with BioNTech (a German biotechnology company).

• Advised a Singapore-based investor on its participation in a Series A financing transaction in an Australian business.

• Advised an Australian superannuation fund on its investment in a US technology company.