Tony is an experienced and highly credentialed business leader and lawyer.
Tony was previously the Managing Partner (CEO) of Hall & Wilcox, finishing in June 2024 after 17 years. In that role, he was responsible for driving the firm’s strategy, leading the firm’s people, facilitating the firm’s relationships with key clients and representing the firm publicly. During Tony’s time leading Hall & Wilcox, the firm enjoyed significant growth and success. The business grew >10x, opened seven new offices, forged numerous new major client relationships and hired and onboarded many great people and teams. Tony led the transformation of Hall & Wilcox into the leading firm it is today.
Tony is a senior corporate and commercial lawyer. He has represented clients on numerous substantial merger and acquisition, capital markets and corporate transactions. He has also advised clients on the establishment and operation of managed investment schemes and other collective investment vehicles. Tony is listed in Best Lawyers and Doyle's guide. Tony has a breadth of legal and commercial experience that enables him to advise clients strategically in relation to major projects and transactions.
Tony has significant board experience. Until recently, he was the chair of Australian Business Community Network (ABCN), a partnership of business leaders and organisations that facilitates mentoring programs with low SES schools. He served on the Board of Committee for Melbourne for 9 years. He currently is on the board of Fitzroy Legal Service and chairs the FLS Finance, Risk & Audit Committee.
Since stepping down as Managing Partner, Tony’s role at Hall & Wilcox will encompass a number of special projects, including leading the firm’s markets and sector strategy and exploring ways to create greater value for major clients of the firm.
- Acting for the owners of Liberty Oil in its 50% sale to Viva Energy.
- Acting for Arena Investment Management in the sale (by trust scheme) of the Arena Property Fund to KKR.
- Acting for APN Property Group in the $300m IPO and listing of Industria REIT.
- Acting for Bendigo and Adelaide Bank in numerous commercial transactions, including wealth business acquisition and community bank transactions.
- Acting for AXA Asia Pacific in numerous corporate and acquisition transactions, the establishment of the ‘North’ ordinary money capital guaranteed product.
- Acting for Tony and Maureen Wheeler (founding shareholders) and interests associated with John Singleton/Mark Carnegie in the sale of Lonely Planet Publications to BBC Worldwide.
- Acting for the responsible entity and fund manager in the proposed Pacific Retail REIT IPO, which involved the potential acquisition of five sub-regional shopping centres and a $370 million capital raising (not completed).
- Acting for APN Funds Management in the IPO and ASX listing of the APN/UKA European Retail Trust and the Trust’s two subsequent non-renounceable accelerated rights offers.
- Acting for the APN Property Group in its IPO and ASX listing.
- Acting for Grocon Property Trust Australia in its establishment and initial capital raising.
- Acting in relation to the establishment of and capital raising by numerous wholesale and retail funds.
- Acting for the Marriner Theatre Group in relation to its restructure and refinancing.
- Acting for the Mathis Group in the sale of its interests in the Transport and Upper/Lower House restaurant businesses in Melbourne.
- Acting in numerous private equity transactions.
- Acting on the sale of Sweeny Research to Ernst & Young.
- Acting for BDO Melbourne on its sale to Deloitte.
- Acting in the 50% sale of Liberty Oil to Viva Energy.
Best Lawyers in Australia
2025 | Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Equity Capital Markets Law and Investment Law
2024 | Commercial Law, Corporate Law, Equity Capital Markets Law
2014-2023 | Commercial Law, Corporate Law ('Lawyer of the Year 2023'), Equity Capital Markets Law
Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Firm Awards 2022
Finalist | Managing Partner of the Year
Australasian Law Awards
2022 | Winner | Law Firm Leader of the Year (>200 Employees)
2014-2020 | Excellence Award – Law Firm Leader of the Year (>200 Lawyers) 2020; Finalist – Managing Partner of the Year 2019, 2016 and 2014; Winner – Managing Partner of the Year 2017 and 2015
Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession
2021-2023 | Business & Commercial Lawyers (Victoria)
2020-2022 | Corporate Lawyers (Victoria)