Michelle is an experienced corporate lawyer specialising in mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions and alternative fund raisings, based in Brisbane. In addition, Michelle works closely with her clients to assist with corporate governance issues and regulatory compliance, in particular ASX Listing Rules and Corporations Act matters. Michelle works with clients to negotiate significant commercial agreements and provides commercial advice on business critical matters.
With clients across a range of sectors, Michelle works with companies listed on the ASX and other stock exchanges as well with unlisted companies, including emerging businesses. Michelle prides herself on the relationships she has with clients and is committed to working alongside her clients in the long term and contributing to their growth and success.
Michelle’s expertise includes:
- capital markets. Advising on equity capital raisings, via private placements, entitlement offers and share purchase plans as well as debt and hybrid raisings encompassing various forms of convertible securities.
- stock exchange listings on the ASX as well as TSX (Toronto) and AIM (London). Working closely with clients and their advisors during the entire listing process and initial public offering and taking a lead role in managing the overall transaction team.
- mergers and acquisitions. Advising on various forms of mergers and acquisitions both domestic and cross border, whether by way of a share or asset sale, takeover or merger on both a friendly and hostile basis. Advising on structure and tactics, leading due diligence investigations, negotiating transaction documents and navigating regulatory hurdles.
- regulatory advice and compliance. Advising on regulatory compliance issues, particularly in respect of the Corporations Act and the ASX Listing Rules as well as matters relating to financial services, products and licencing within Australia.
- equity incentives. Advising on employee ownership plans and implementation for listed and unlisted companies.
- corporate governance advice. Assisting on implementing corporate governance policies and advising on corporate governance matters.
- company secretarial assistance. Assisting company secretaries with compliance matters including drafting ASX announcements, reviewing annual reports, preparation of notices of meeting and attendance at board, committee and shareholder meetings.
- contract negotiation and review. Drafting and advising on a wide variety of commercial contracts including shareholders agreements, joint venture agreements, share sale and asset sale agreements, services agreements, manufacturing and distribution agreements.
Experience
- Advised on the sale of a controlling equity interest in Keystone Group (a leading Australian Insurance Building and Restoration Services business) to ASX listed Johns Lyng Group.
- Advised on the sale of the Newcastle Offshore Wind (NOW) project to EDF Renewables, a subsidiary of the French global energy group EDF.
- Advised shareholders of iGreenData Pty Ltd, a leading cloud-enabled, data-centric digital solutions company, on the acquisition of iGreenData Pty Ltd by Synechron, a global digital transformation consulting firm headquartered in New York.
- Advised Spirit Super (now CareSuper), an Australian industry super fund, on its joint acquisition, with US infrastructure investor Stonepeak, of GeelongPort.
- Advising on the sale of the Lakeland Solar & Storage Project, located in North Queensland, to ASX listed MPower Group Limited.
- Advising Centrepoint Alliance (ASX: CAF) on the acquisition of various ClearView Advice subsidiaries from ClearView Wealth Limited (ASX:CVW).
- Advising the developers of various renewable energy projects in connection with third party equity to develop the projects.
- Advised Upstreet on the establishment, structuring and promotion of a share rewards program for shoppers offered via a registered scheme known as the Upstreet Fund.
- Advising on the sale of Energy Infrastructure Management Pty Ltd, a Queensland based infrastructure services company owned by AGL Energy and Arrow Energy to ASX Listed Verbrec Limited (formerly LogiCamms Ltd).
- Advising New York based funds on equity investments and debt facilities with numerous ASX-listed companies across a variety of industries including biotech, health and resources.
- Advising various ASX-listed companies on their ASX listings and IPOs, including via reverse takeovers and subsequent capital raising activities including share placements, rights issues and share purchase plans.
- Advising ASX listed Strata-X Energy Limited (now Pure Hydrogen Corporation Limited) on its scheme of arrangement with ASX listed Real Energy Limited.
- Advising ASX listed Australian Pacific Coal Limited with respect to multiple debt and equity capital raisings to acquire the Dartbrook Coal Mine in the Hunter Valley from Anglo American.
- Advising REACH Australia on its Australian accelerator program. REACH Australia is a growth accelerator created by Second Century Ventures, an early-stage technology fund backed by the US National Association of REALTORS®, focused on technology companies in real estate and adjacent industries.
Awards and Recognition
The Legal 500 Asia Pacific
2022 and 2025 | Corporate and M&A
Doyle's Guide to the Australian Legal Profession
2020 - 2025 | Business & Commercial Lawyers (Queensland)
2023 and 2024 | Corporate Lawyers (Queensland)
Membership
- Queensland Law Society
- Women on Boards
Relevant Sectors
Relevant Services
Related news & insightsView all