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Lawrence Mendes

Lawrence Mendes

Partner
Baker & McKenzie

Biography

Lawrence is a partner in the corporate practice group in Sydney and advises private equity sponsors, funds and large corporations on public and private M&A transactions.

He also has particular focus on private capital transactions spanning the full spectrum of the fund life cycle from leveraged buy-outs, bolt-on acquisitions and exits.

In addition to his Australian experience, he has also spent two years advising on domestic US and Australian inbound M&A transactions whilst based in Baker McKenzie's Chicago office.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Acting for a US financial sponsor on M&A expansion through acquisitions in APAC (2024).
  • Acting for an Australian ASX-listed company on the proposed sale of a part of a division to a financial sponsor (2024). 
  • Advising an international fund on it’s AUD 1 billion+ proposal to acquire an Australian distribution business (2023). 
  • Acting for a French conglomerate on its acquisition of an Australian energy platform (2023).
  • Acting for a US financial sponsor on its bid for a division of an Australian bank (2022). 
  • Advising an ASX-listed company on its formation of a consortium with a private equity sponsor and its acquisition of a business from another Australian private equity sponsor (2022).
  • Advising a European multinational on the sale of its Australian operations to an ASX-listed strategic purchaser for c. AUD 2.5 billion (2021).
  • Acting for a large private equity sponsor on its exit from an Australian business for over AUD 300 million (2021).
  • Advising an international hotel owner and operator on the c. AUD 200 million sale of a portfolio of Australian hotels by way of auction process (2020-2021).
  • Acting for a large private equity sponsor on its bid for a division of one of the "big four" Australian banks for over AUD 1 billion (2020).
  • Advising a Japanese bank on its acquisition of a division of one of the "big four" Australian banks for approximately AUD 4 billion (2018-2019).
  • Acting for ASC Group on the sale of ASC Shipbuilding to BAE Systems Australia and arrangements in relation to the construction of nine future frigates (this transaction was awarded 2019 "Property, Infrastructure & Projects Deal of the Year").
  • Advising a global private equity sponsor on its acquisition via auction process of a multi-state Australian business (2019).
  • Advising a multinational energy services provider on its acquisition of a business from an ASX-listed energy company and simultaneous formation of a joint venture with a major Australian private equity sponsor (2018).
  • Advising a UK-based multinational corporation on two strategic acquisitions of Australian businesses (2017 and 2018).
  • Advising the founders of an on-demand services business relation to its series-A and pre-series-B fundraising activities in the USA and Australia (2017-2019).

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Law Society of New South Wales - Member

Admissions

  • New South Wales~Australia (2008)
  • High Court of Australia (2008)
  • Federal Court of Australia~Australia (2008)

Education

  • University of Sydney (LLB) (2007)
  • University of Sydney (Bachelor of Commerce Major in Finance and Accounting) (2005)
  • University of Sydney (Merit Scholarship recipient) (2003)

Languages

  • English

Previous Offices

  • Chicago
Baker & McKenzie, an Australian Partnership, is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.