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TechTalk Vodcast 2024
In this five-part Vodcast series, we discuss important legal and business developments on different key areas that are relevant to tech companies and users in Australia and the world.
Get up-to-date information on the current legal and regulatory matters impacting your business. Search by country, industry and area of legal practice.
Overview
With more than 50 years of experience in the local market, we are the go-to firm for Australian companies, multinationals and financial institutions. The strength of our team of 300 lawyers is the ability to collaborate across practice groups, sectors and markets to provide clients the connected perspectives, integrated solutions and seamless guidance they need to succeed in an increasingly interconnected global market.
Our Australian offices work on some of the most significant transactions and complex commercial questions in Asia Pacific — helping clients to deliver business objectives while mitigating risk. For example, representing the New South Wales government on the sale of its electricity retail and generation assets — the country's largest privatization. Baker McKenzie in Australia has advised Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation (MUTB) on its AUD 4 billion acquisition of the global asset management division (CFSGAM) of Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). CFSGAM manages AUD 218.4 billion in funds investments for clients around the world, including many substantial investments in infrastructure assets. The transaction was subject to many regulatory approvals around the world. The Australian offices have also successfully acted for its client, Orora Limited (ASX: ORA), in entering into a binding agreement to sell its Australasian Fiber Business to a wholly owned subsidiary of Nippon Paper Industries Co., Limited (Nippon Paper) for an enterprise value of AUD 1.72 billion.
We are also dedicated to creating a diverse and flexible workplace. Since 2010, the Firm is proud to have received an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Federal Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). This citation recognizes organizations that have demonstrated an active commitment to gender equality in their workplace with a focus on removing the structural and cultural barriers that prevent the full participation of women at work.
Our Australian offices combine local experience with international reach, and deep practice expertise with industry knowledge. As opportunities and risks spill across different markets, sectors and areas of law, this holistic perspective offers clients the insight and foresight they need to drive sustainable and inclusive growth.
We have particular cross-border capabilities in Mergers & Acquisitions — completing more international deals than any other law firm — helping clients to manage Real Estate portfolios, Construction projects and complex Employment and immigration issues throughout Asia Pacific. In Australia, our Restructuring & Insolvency team has played a key role in many of the country’s major insolvency cases over the past 20 years, and our Compliance, Investigations & Ethics and Antitrust & Competition practices are market leading.
We also provide local and global advice in key practice areas and sectors, and via integrated solutions.
World-Class Career Opportunities
We are committed to providing you with world-class opportunities to learn, develop and succeed in your career. We focus on improving the leadership, business development and project management skills of our lawyers by providing programs to expand their experience.
From Summer Clerk to Partner: Ryan Grant's Journey at Baker McKenzie
What makes a successful legal career? Sydney partner Ryan Grant provides a hugely insightful overview of his career with the Firm in our case study.
Find out more about Ryan Grant's Journey at Baker McKenzie
Seasonal Clerkship Program
Our Seasonal Clerkship Program provides insight into life at Baker McKenzie. You’ll get the chance to do substantive work for market-leading local and global clients, build your network, learn about our practices, clients and structure, and hear about our global training and work opportunities. The majority of our Graduate positions are given to former Seasonal Clerks. We also provide Seasonal Clerks with the opportunity to undertake Research Clerk roles, and apply for our unique International Clerkship Program where you can work for four weeks in one of our overseas offices.
Find out more about life as a Summer Clerk and International Clerk - Sydney
Find out more about life as a Summer Clerk and International Clerk - Melbourne
Graduate Program
Our Graduate Program builds on the Seasonal Clerkship. You will complete three rotations across our practice groups, working with the world's largest local and global companies, and will be assigned a supervising Partner and Associate 'buddy' in each rotation to maximise your mentoring, development and on-the-job and formal learning.
We organise seminars on core legal topics and practical skills sessions (such as business communication and drafting) for Graduates, and cover the costs of your Practical Legal Training, admission and practising certificate.
Find out more about life as a Baker McKenzie Graduate
For more information on our Clerkship and Graduate Programs, please contact:
Sydney: Nicola Bell, Talent Management Consultant, +61 2 8922 5272 or Email: Nicola Bell
Melbourne: Natalie Mascarenhas, Senior Consultant - Graduate Resourcing, +61 9617 4349 or Email: Natalie Mascarenhas
Trainee Secretary Program
Our Trainee Secretary Program is your first step into a Legal Secretary career at Baker McKenzie. You’ll be mentored by experienced Senior Secretaries and rotate through various legal practices and Business Services departments to develop practical and administrative skills. Our tailored national learning program and exposure to market leading transactions will set you up with the skills you need to take advantage of genuine and permanent career opportunities in our global firm.
For more information on our Sydney Trainee Secretary Program, please contact:
Sydney: Holly McKnight, Talent Management Coordinator, +61 2 8922 5212 or Email: Holly McKnight
For more information on our Melbourne Trainee Secretary Program, please contact:
Melbourne: Savannah Miles, Talent Management Coordinator, +61 9617 4319 or Email: Savannah Miles
Get up-to-date information on the current legal and regulatory matters impacting your business. Search by country, industry and area of legal practice.
Corporate Social Responsibility in the Australian offices comprises two distinct areas: the pro bono legal services provided by our lawyers and community service activities everyone is encouraged to participate in.
Pro Bono
We believe that providing pro bono legal services is a fundamental professional responsibility. As lawyers, we have specific skills and the best way to assist those in need is to utilise those skills.
Underscoring our commitment, all our lawyers are expected to work on pro bono matters and we have a dedicated pro bono practice group. We are also a signatory to the National Pro Bono Target of at least 35 hours of pro bono legal work per lawyer per year. We have our own Australian office target of at least 50 pro bono hours per lawyer per year.
In FY23, we contributed more than 12,358 pro bono hours to individual members of our community, charities and other not-for-profit organisations, equating to an average of 45 pro bono hours per lawyer.
The nature of our work is vast and varied. Our work covers many areas including youth, poverty, health, the environment; domestic violence; the elderly, asylum seekers and refugees, people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, human trafficking and modern slavery; LGBTI issues; and much more.
Our pro bono work extends globally, including the Asia Pacific region.
Community Service
Our people have the opportunity to make a contribution in the community by participating in a variety of community engagement initiatives which are structured under the pillars of:
- Charity Partnerships
There are many opportunities to support our nominated Charity Partners. We are currently supporting ID. Know Yourself (First Nations mentoring organisation for kids in out-of-home care), Project Etico (social enterprise hotel - disability training, employment and independent living) and RACS (Refugee Advice & Casework Service).
- Volunteering Programs
Some volunteering initiatives include the Gawura Morning Reading Program (focused on improved literacy skills for First Nations children), Eat Up sessions (to provide lunch to kids that would otherwise go hungry leading to improved health, learning and social outcomes) and The Alfresco Community Kitchen sessions (a meal service for people in-need).
- Workplace Giving
Through our Workplace Giving Program everyone is encouraged to donate to causes they feel are important and contribute to appeals the firm organises to raise funds or in-kind donations.
Offices
Brisbane
Baker McKenzieRiparian Plaza
Level 32
71 Eagle Street
Brisbane QLD 4000
Australia
Melbourne
Level 19181 William Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Australia
Sydney
Tower One - International Towers SydneyLevel 46, 100 Barangaroo Avenue
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
Key Contacts
First Nations Engagement
Baker McKenzie acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and operate across Australia, and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. At Baker McKenzie we value and celebrate First Nations cultures and pay respect to Elders, past, present and emerging.
Our commitment to reconciliation is set out in our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
Our commitment to supporting the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament is set out in this document.
Read about our progress to date, where we reflect on learnings, achievements and challenges of our current RAP.
Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to Baker McKenzie and its affiliates (Baker McKenzie) in relation to its operations in Australia and explains how Baker McKenzie handles personal information and complies with the requirements of the Australian Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).
Modern Slavery Statement
This statement is made by Baker & McKenzie (ABN 32 266 778 912), an Australian partnership, pursuant to section 13 of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 for the financial year ending 30 June 2023.