Finance & Insurance
Clients are "more than satisfied with the quality of the firm's work, its technical capabilities, market knowledge, ability to manage estimates and partner contact." - 2006 Asia Pacific Legal 500.
The Finance and Insurance industries face ongoing consolidation, restructure and an increasing focus on compliance, risk management and sustainability.
Climate change and stakeholder expectations of corporate social responsibility are driving new business and reporting models, with regulatory bodies attempting to balance the respective virtues of voluntary versus compliance-driven regimes.
All of this in an environment marked by increased government regulation and public scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Australian banks have been experiencing the best market conditions for some time. Loan volumes in most key areas of the mid to upper market are up, with leveraged and acquisition finance market volumes particularly strong.
The insurance industry is seeing the benefits of national tort reform with opportunities to increase efficiency and profit as claim numbers continue to decline.
Sparke Helmore's long history of service provision to the Finance and Insurance industries ensures our ability to offer clients legal expertise coupled with broad industry knowledge thereby assisting them to anticipate and manage their responses to strategic and operational business opportunities.
Expertise and depth of national coverage
Sparke Helmore has over 140 practitioners who specialise in providing services to the Finance and Insurance industries, making us one of the largest national providers to these sectors.
Services
Finance & Insurance
- Leveraged & acquisition finance
- Real estate finance
- Corporate & syndicated finance
- Asset & receivables finance
- Project finance
- Regulatory compliance
- Claims management assistance
- General liability
- Medical malpractice
- Professional indemnity
- Workers compensation
- Directors and Officers liability
- Catastrophic claims
- CTP
- Toxic torts
Experience
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Panel appointments with several leading national and international underwriters for claims related services across a range of product lines.
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Panel appointments with two of Australia's top five banks and a number of Australia's other major financial institutions as ongoing clients. Clients include ANZ, St.George, Investec and MFS.
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Defence of major litigation arising from corporate collapses including ASIC v Vines [2005] NSWSC 738) relating to the takeover bid by AMP of GIO Australia.
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Advised Barclays Bank PLC on the Australian aspects of its $250 million refinancing of the leveraged buy-out of the Minova Group.
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Advised St.George, as arranger and underwriter of senior facilities, on the acquisition by PrefSure Holdings of Lumley Life from Wesfarmers.
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Advised St.George, as arranger and underwriter of senior facilities, on the merger of Longreach Limited with Australian Electronic Manufacturing Services (owned and controlled by Pacific Equity Partners).
People
Our specialist practitioners have market-leading Finance and Insurance industry knowledge and networks. They are active members of relevant industry and professional bodies and are sought-after commentators on industry developments.
Our industry experts are chosen for good reason by leading Australian and international insurers, clearing and investment banks, listed and unlisted borrowers and private equity houses to represent their varied interests.
