DLA Piper bolsters private equity team

DLA Piper has appointed leading private capital lawyer, Chris Allen, as a partner in its Sydney office. Chris brings deep experience in private equity and M&A along with important intermediary relationships across the corporate finance landscape.

“Chris is a leading private equity partner in Australia with long-standing relationships with some of the key sponsors in this market. We are very pleased to have Chris on board to grow our practice in this important area” said Amber Matthews, Australia Managing Partner, DLA Piper.

“As part of the broader and ongoing shift from public markets to private capital, Chris’ appointment is an important one for the firm, both in Australia and globally,” Amber said.

“Globally DLA Piper advises on more M&A deals than any other law firm in the world, a position we have maintained for 14 years running. We are focused on ensuring our Australian corporate practice complements our global strength and growing our bench in private equity and M&A expertise locally is a key part of that. Chris is respected for his strong client relationships and has developed a track record of advising on market leading transactions for sponsors,” Amber added.

Shane Bilardi, Australian Head of Corporate, said Chris will be an important addition to the team as we accelerate our investment to offer support for clients across the entire private capital spectrum.

“The shift towards private capital has been and will continue to be a significant driver for transactional work in Australia and we’re committed to ensuring that we grow our team to offer exceptional coverage for sponsors, asset managers and investors in that space. Chris’s experience and relationships position us well to grow our reputation in private equity and more broadly across private capital as sponsors diversify the sectors in which they operate,” Shane said.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris said he’s delighted to be joining the team.

“DLA Piper’s reputation for client focus and a collaborative culture was compelling. Their global footprint points to further growth ahead in their private equity offering and I look forward to playing a key role in this growth in Australia,” Chris said.

Chris’ appointment is part of a strategic drive to grow the Corporate practice in Australia, with a strong focus on Sydney and in private capital. Funds specialist, Jon Ireland, joined the firm in November 2023.