Corporate & Commercial - Overview

Les Lewis

Director

Les has specialised in corporate and commercial law for 30 years. He has led innumerable transactions for both private and public companies and is experienced in all aspects of transactional work, including dealing with regulatory bodies such as ASIC and FIRB.

Les has extensive corporate advisory experience and has assisted many directors, shareholders and investors through difficult and stressful crises.

In addition to his corporate work, Les specialises in asset protection and succession planning, both for corporate and individuals with complicated and complex structures.

Les was a partner of Fluxman Rabinowitz (a leading commercial practice in Johannesburg) and joined Freehills when he immigrated to Australia in 1987. Les, together with Mark Morgan, established Morgan Lewis in 1996.

Matthew King

Director

Matthew specialises in M&A, private equity and commercial property related transactions.

Matthew's experience in commercial transactions has been honed at top tier law firms, as well as during a stint as an investment banker focussing on private equity investments and divestments.

In addition to his legal qualifications, Matthew holds a Master of Business Administration degree. Prior to joining Morgan Lewis, Matthew was a Special Counsel with Blake Dawson in its M&A and securities law group.

Matthew represented the investors in the $211 million investment in the listed Abacus Property Group, the $200 million acquisition of a controlling interest in the listed Orchard Industrial Property Fund and the $73 million investment in the listed Cromwell Group. Matthew has advised on the development of the Western Australian Cricket Association’s grounds and Jandakot Airport in WA. Matthew's private equity related work has included fund formations, team participation structures, secondary private equity sales and the $1billion-plus leveraged buyouts of Primedia Limited, a listed media group and Peermont Limited, a listed gaming group.

Delene Blumberg

Director

Delene specialises in private sector mergers, acquisitions and other transactional work and is one of Australia's leading franchising solicitors.

Delene has extensive experience in both corporate and commercial law, having practised in these fields for more than 18 years, and having been a partner in a top tier South African firm before joining Morgan Lewis in 2001.

Julian Block

Special Counsel

Julian is one of Australia's most experienced, skilful and best recognised tax and structuring lawyers.

Julian immigrated to Australia in 1978, joining Freehills in 1978. He became a banking and finance partner in 1980, where he remained until joining Morgan Lewis in 2001.

Julian has been a Senior Member of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal since 1995 and a Deputy President of the Tribunal since 2000.

Yukio Hayashi

Special Counsel

Born and raised in Yokohama, Japan, Yukio has a bachelor of laws from the University of New South Wales. In 1979, Yukio became the first Japanese lawyer to be admitted to practice in Australia.

Yukio worked in the commercial groups at Baker & McKenzie and then Freehills, where he became a partner in 1984. While at Freehills Yukio specialised in providing corporate and commercial advice to Japanese companies. In 1996, he established his own firm, Yukio Hayashi & Associates. In 2010, Yukio joined Morgan Lewis as Special Counsel.

Abraham Schwarcz

Solicitor

Abraham holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from Monash University and was admitted as a lawyer by the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2010.

Abraham joined Morgan Lewis as a law graduate in 2009 in its commercial litigation and dispute resolution division and settled in the commercial division in 2010.