I have over 20 years' experience advising on complex and large scale M&A. I am the practice group leader of the Sydney M&A team, I sit on the board of the MinterEllison Partnership and the Division Council of the Capital Markets Division of the Property Council of Australia. I am consistently recognised in Best Lawyers for M&A.

Career highlights

Advised Stockland:

• on its $3.5B joint venture with John Boyd to develop the Kogarah Golf Club;
• on its capital partnership with Mitsubishi in relation to the development of communities project;
• on its $1.1B land lease communities fund with Invesco; and
• its strategic partnership with Thailand’s Supalai PCL, whereby Supalai acquired a 50% stake in Stockland’s new master-planned community “Katalia” in Donnybrook, VIC.

Advised Opal HealthCare on the acquisition of five aged care facilities from Cranbrook.

Advised Daiwa House on the acquisition of a majority interest in a build to rent development at Melbourne Quarter in partnership with Lendlease.

Advised Logos on its joint venture with Boral to develop 450 hectares in Deer Park in Victoria.

Advised L'Oreal on the Australian aspects of its acquisition of Aesop for $3.7B - the largest deal for any luxury brand in Australia, together with Latham and Watkins.

Advised Challenger on:

• the sale of its real estate business to Elanor Investors Group; and
• on the sale of its interest in Whitehelm Capital, a Fidante Partners investment to Patrizia AG.

Advised AMP/Dexus on:

• the sale of its Global Equities and Fixed Income Business to Macquarie Asset Management;
• their infrastructure equity investments including the $2bn refinancing of Reliance Rail and their investments into the New Royal Adelaide Hospital PPP;
• their structured real estate investments including in relation to Darling Park, Macarthur Square, Quay Quarter and Loftus Lane.

Advised Great Southern Bank on:

• the sale of its health insurance business to HBF; and
• establishment of a procurement joint venture with People’s Choice Credit Union to combine services for ~790,000 members

Advised Aberdeen on the sale of its Australian equities investment business and trustee business transferring ~$1.5B in funds under management.

Education
BCOM, LLB

• Member of the Property Council of Australia's Capital Markets Committee

• Point of View: Louella Stone M&A transactions in Australia
  

  Louella specialises in large-scale public and private M&A transactions, disposals, joint ventures, partnerships, auction processes and restructures to Australian and international institutions.

• MinterEllison advises Stockland on landmark Kogarah Golf Club redevelopment joint venture
  

  MinterEllison has advised ing Australian property group, Stockland, on its landmark joint venture with John Boyd Properties (JBP) for the development of the Kogarah Golf Club in Arncliffe, NSW, an 18.3-hectare site adjacent to Sydney Airport.

• Navigating APRA Approval for banking and insurance mergers in Australia
  

  In this article, we consider the strategy to successfully navigating the requirements in M&A transactions, and provide an overview of the various APRA regulatory approvals needed in banking and insurance mergers in Australia.

• The Big Shift: Asian banks expand their Australian presence as European banks exit
  As European banks continue to pull back their global operations Chinese banks, eyeing higher yields, are looking to establish a more dominant presence in the institutional banking market in Australia. These changing dynamics will to a significant change in the shape of the market and more M&A activity in 2016/17.
• Why not litigate (again)?
  The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has commenced proceedings against Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and separately, against the Bank of Queensland over (alleged) unfair small business loans.
• MinterEllison advises Frasers Property Australia, Irongate Group Joint Venture on Bradmill site acquisition
  

  The transaction is one of the largest land deals in inner Melbourne this year, reflecting the strength of the residential market.

   

• A post-Royal Commission world: 8 factors that will shift the dynamics of the aged care sector
  

  Will unlocking capital, divestments and vertical integration be key to the future viability of the aged care sector?

   

• MinterEllison advises Daiwa House on $650 million build-to-rent project
  

  MinterEllison advised Daiwa House Australia on their acquisition of a majority interest in a build-to-rent development at Melbourne Quarter in partnership with Lendlease, marking DHA's exciting entry into Australia's build-to-rent market.

• MinterEllison teams with Latham & Watkins on Aēsop sale to L'Oréal
  

  MinterEllison has acted as Australian and New Zealand legal advisor to L'Oréal on its acquisition of Melbourne-based skincare group Aēsop for AUD$3.7 billion. The deal is the largest for any luxury brand in Australia.