Rory Moriarty
Clayton Utz
Partner
Sydney
He's very, very good; investment bankers regard him very highly.
– Chambers Asia Pacific
a public M&A guru with a great level of commerciality and a go-to lawyer on complex M&A questions, thanks to his ability to assess an issue quickly and provide a response
– Chambers and Partners
Overview
Rory is one of Australia's pre-eminent M&A lawyers. Rory's expertise covers a broad range of transactions, including Australian and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, takeovers and corporate structuring. He represents acquirers, private equity and capital investors from within Australia and internationally and ASX listed companies, including their boards in securing outcomes for all stakeholders. He regularly advises on Australian corporate law, including directors' and officers' responsibilities and duties and ASX Listing Rule issues and has had extensive dealings with Government and other regulatory bodies, including the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, the Foreign Investment Review Board, ASX, the Takeovers Panel and probity approvals.
Rory has been appointed by the Australian Government as a member of the Takeovers Panel since 2018, which oversees the conduct of M&A in Australia.
Rory, as Co-Head of International, is responsible for our international firm relationships.
Notable Work
- InvoCare Limited: Advised InvoCare Limited on its acquisition by TPG Capital by way of scheme of arrangement for $1.8 billion.
- Uniti Group Limited: Advised Uniti Group Limited on its acquisition by the consortium led by HRL Morrison & Co. and Brookfield Infrastructure Partners for $3.4 billion.
- Dye & Durham Corporation:
- Advised Dye & Durham Corporation on its proposed acquisition of Link Administration Holdings, pursuant to a scheme of arrangement for $2.9 billion.
- Advised Dye & Durham Corporation on its proposed acquisition of Link Administration Holding's Corporate Markets and Banking and Credit Management business for $1.27 billion.
- Blackstone:
- Advised Blackstone on its acquisition of Crown Resorts Limited by way of scheme of arrangement for $8.9 billion.
- Advised Blackstone on the dual track disposal (simultaneous IPO and trade sale auction) of its Australian logistics portfolio, "Milestone". This transaction was ultimately executed as a A$3.8 billion trade sale to ESR Partnership.
- Senex Energy: Advised Senex Energy on its acquisition by POSCO International by way of scheme of arrangement for $900 million.
- Westpac Banking Corporation: Advised Westpac in the sale of its auto-finance business to Angle Auto Finance for approximately $1 billion.
- MYOB: Advised MYOB on its acquisition by KKR by way of scheme of arrangement for $2.2 billion.
- Virgin Australia Holdings Limited: Advised on the sale Virgin Australia to Bain Private Equity for $3.5 billion.
- Singtel Optus: Advised Singtel Optus on its acquisition of Amaysim Australia Limited for $250 million.
- Baring Private Equity Asia: Advised SAI Global, a portfolio company of Baring Private Equity Asia, on the acquisition of its Assurance and Standards business to UK-listed Intertek Group plc, for $855 million.
- Myer: Advising Myer and its directors in addressing their duties and responsibilities in relation to strategic governance issues.
- Macquarie Group Limited: Advised Macquarie on the A$8.2 billion purchase of ANZ's Esanda receivables business.
Insights
Continuous disclosure obligations of Court proceedings: how far it goes, and how regulators could assist
22 Mar 2023 | Article
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Is a break fee the only remedy if you walk away from a scheme of arrangement?
21 Dec 2022 | Article
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Directors granted leeway to apply for Director ID by 14 December 2022
2 Dec 2022 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz advises on the successful debt and equity restructure of Camp Australia
7 Nov 2022 | Media Release
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Media Release: $3.7 billion Uniti Group Limited acquisition signals strong times for M&A activity in TMT sector
31 Oct 2022 | Media Release
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FIRB application fees will double from 29 July: what you need to know
25 Jul 2022 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz congratulates Blackstone on successful implementation of Crown Resorts scheme
24 Jun 2022 | Media Release
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Permanent reforms to permit the use of technology to hold shareholder meetings
3 Mar 2022 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz a winner at 2021 ACOMM Awards for services to telecommunications industry
22 Nov 2021 | Media Release
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Long-awaited certainty as Parliament permits virtual general meetings
16 Aug 2021 | Article
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Significant reforms to the Australian continuous disclosure regime are now law: A guide for listed entities and their officers
16 Aug 2021 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz supports SAI Global on A$855 million sale of its Assurance and Standards arms to Intertek Group plc
17 May 2021 | Media Release
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Temporary COVID-19 relief for virtual shareholder meetings and continuous disclosure has now lapsed
23 Mar 2021 | Article
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Attention directors: investors call for climate change management and disclosure
11 Mar 2021 | Article
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ASIC's new immunity policy for market misconduct offences benefits individuals
24 Feb 2021 | Article
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Significant proposed changes to the Corporations Act for continuous disclosure, AGMs and e-signing
22 Feb 2021 | Article
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Significant Australian foreign investment reforms commencing 1 January 2021
11 Dec 2020 | Article
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More sectors to be critical infrastructure, increased obligations, and wider government powers in draft Bill – so comment now
20 Nov 2020 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz sees new Virgin Australia take flight with completion of sale to Bain
20 Nov 2020 | Media Release
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NSW launches remote witnessing pilot scheme; Treasurer remakes e-signing arrangements for companies
29 Sep 2020 | Article
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Company directors and secretaries allowed to sign documents electronically, and clarity on company meetings, in new COVID-19 measures
6 May 2020 | Article
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ASX and ASIC COVID-19 capital raising and other measures to provide temporary relief for ASX-listed entities
1 Apr 2020 | Article
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Changes to foreign investment review in Australia under temporary COVID-19 measures
30 Mar 2020 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz advises Oaktree Capital on innovative Marlin Brands buyout
6 Jun 2019 | Media Release
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ASX Corporate Governance Principles give a clearer framework for corporate Australia – and some work to do
27 Feb 2019 | Article
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Financial Services Royal Commission part 6 - Competition in home lending
25 Feb 2019 | Document
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Financial Services Royal Commission part 5 - A new regulatory frontier – APRA's approach to supervision and enforcement in a post-Royal Commission environment
21 Feb 2019 | Document
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Financial Services Royal Commission part 3 - A new regulatory frontier – ASIC enforcement in a post-Royal Commission environment
8 Feb 2019 | Document
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ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations proposals: their impact on corporate governance in Australia
2 Aug 2018 | Article
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Proxy adviser engagement: engagement practices during the 2017 AGM season, and ASIC's recommendations
19 Jul 2018 | Article
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Media Release: Clayton Utz's Shae McCartney and Mark Geritz among winners at the 2018 Partner of the Year Awards
28 Jun 2018 | Media Release
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Protecting your interests as a shareholder at shareholder meetings
26 Apr 2018 | Article
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Clayton Utz partner Rory Moriarty appointed to Takeovers Panel
9 Apr 2018 | Media Release
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ASIC highlights the importance of annual general meetings and recent trends in corporate governance
1 Feb 2018 | Article
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Clayton Utz acts for Denmark's CIP on investment in Australian-first A$8 billion offshore windfarm project
7 Dec 2017 | Media Release
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Anti-phoenixing reforms to corporate law, tax law and insolvency now open for consultation
29 Sep 2017 | Article
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Regulatory burdens eased for foreign government and other investors in low-risk business acquisitions
3 Jul 2017 | Article
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Bullying at the boardroom table can now go to the Fair Work Commission
25 May 2017 | Article
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Clayton Utz shows strongly among finalists for 2017 Lawyers Weekly Partner of the Year Awards
17 Mar 2017 | Media Release
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