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Quality and consistency through collaboration

We are pleased to announce that Stephen Putnins has joined our Corporate & Commercial team as a Partner.

Stephen specialises in superannuation, funds management, investments, and financial services regulation.  His extensive experience includes advising clients on major projects, general corporate and operational matters, outsourcing, cross border transactions, acquisitions and divestments, derivatives, due diligence, governance, regulatory and compliance matters, investor and member disputes, and remediation.  Additionally, Stephen has significant experience across all asset classes including Australian and international equities, cash and fixed income, property, private equity, and infrastructure including multiple billion dollar public private partnerships (PPPs).

Stephen has advised on major superannuation fund mergers and wind-ups and has significant regulatory and governance experience including financial accountability regimes and design and distribution obligations.  He has provided advice on global non-cash payment facilities, digital assets, and carbon trading (AFS licensing).

Stephen has also helped clients manage mandates with environmental, social and governance (ESG) overlays while traversing greenwashing, sanctions, and modern slavery risks.

Julien Castaldi, National Practice Group Leader for Corporate & Commercial said, ‘We are pleased to welcome Stephen to our team. As a firm, we have ambitious growth plans in the area of complex corporate financial regulation and bringing on board a partner of Stephen’s calibre enables us to provide exceptional support to our clients across superannuation, financial services, and funds management.  Stephen’s presence will also add significantly to the evolution and growth of our Corporate & Commercial offering in the Melbourne office.’

Stephen remarked, ‘It was important for me to join a firm known for its culture of collaboration and collegiality, as well as one with a clearly defined strategy for growth and success. Joining Sparke Helmore allows me to build on my strong relationships in the industry, to provide top tier service to my clients, and play a key role in expanding the expertise of the firm’s growing Corporate & Commercial team.’

Stephen joins us from Mills Oakley and will be based in our Melbourne office.

About Sparke Helmore

We’ve come a long way since our doors first opened in the Hunter in 1882.  We’ve had an office in Sydney since the ‘60s and we recently opened our tenth office in Cairns.

We cover six key areas of law – Corporate & Commercial, Commercial Insurance, Government, Property Environment & Finance, Statutory Lines of Insurance and Workplace – with more than 30 specialised areas of expertise. We’re a truly national, full service and proudly Australian firm that delivers results through deep collaboration with our clients. Wherever our clients need us, that’s where we’ll be.

Covering a big country needs a big team—we’re more than 880 people now and still growing. And in true Australian spirit, we’re friendly, approachable and easy to work with. And when you work with one of us, you get the expertise of all of us.

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