Hall & Wilcox advises Focus Financial Partners on expansion of Connectus Wealth Advisers into Australian market

Hall & Wilcox has advised Focus Financial Partners, a US-listed leading partnership of fiduciary wealth management firms, on the expansion of Connectus Wealth Advisers into Australia.

At the same time as entering the Australia market, Connectus has acquired market-leading wealth management firms Brady & Associates, Link Financial Services and Westwood Group. These transactions enable Connectus to establish an immediate and meaningful footprint in Australia.

Connectus is a consortium of firms whose members deliver comprehensive wealth management advice. Brady & Associates is a private client wealth management and accounting advisory practice headquartered in Sydney. Link Financial Services is an integrated wealth management firm headquartered in Melbourne. Westwood is a boutique wealth management firm headquartered in Brisbane.

Partner Chris Brown led the Hall & Wilcox team, supported by Partners Aaron Dearden, Jacqui Barrett and Adrian Verdnik, and assisted by Lawyers Rebecca Kazzi, Paul Simos, James Hanrahan, Matthew Peterson and Charlie Renney.

Hall & Wilcox advised on all legal aspects of Connectus’ market entry and the transactions involving the three new Connectus firms.

Partner Chris Brown said: ‘It was a pleasure to work with Focus on this new investment and adviser support model in Australia. Connectus complements Focus’ traditional way of investing and doing business which we have seen in earlier acquisitions in Australia. Both Focus and Connectus are well-capitalised, experienced and agile, which will stand them in very good stead for further consolidation activity in the wealth sector in this country.’

Hall & Wilcox is a leading independent Australian law firm of around 750 people including 94 partners delivering outstanding legal services to corporate, public sector and private clients, both Australian-based and those offshore doing business in Australia. Hall & Wilcox’s Mergers & Acquisitions team is widely recognised for servicing mid-market M&A transactions in Australia and globally.