Allens appoints five new partners

Allens is pleased to announce the appointment of five new partners: Chris Blane, Benjamin Downie, Linda Govenlock, Chung Le and Scott McCoy.

Franki Ganter, who joined the firm as an M&A specialist in the Brisbane office in January, has also been formally welcomed as one of this year's partners.

Welcoming the new partners, Allens Chairman Ian Wallace acknowledged their strong client focus and deep understanding of clients' needs and challenges.

'Feedback from clients highlights the ways in which this group has worked collaboratively with their clients to find innovative solutions to overcome challenges and to deliver the highest level of value and client experience,' Ian said.

The partners-elect represent different specialties, sectors and geographies:

• Chris Blane, Sydney: currently a managing associate in M&A, Chris has had extensive involvement in numerous high-profile public and private M&A transactions in the infrastructure and financial services sectors. Clients recognise his commercial acumen, responsiveness to client demands and particular expertise in cross-border transactions.
• Benjamin Downie, Sydney: Benjamin specialises in securitisation, structured finance and debt capital markets. Clients, and the market generally, recognise him as an exceptionally strong technical and commercial lawyer, and as one of a handful of 'go to' lawyers for complex securitisation and structured finance transactions. He has acted on a broad variety of programs and transactions in the Australian and offshore debt capital markets.
• Linda Govenlock, Sydney: Linda is a managing associate and registered patent attorney in Australia and New Zealand, and a registered Australian trade mark attorney. She specialises in intellectual property in the pharmaceutical, chemical and life sciences, and is recognised for her technical expertise and commerciality.
• Chung Le, Hanoi: Chung is an accomplished lawyer and managing associate in energy, resources and infrastructure, with a particularly strong background in project finance and construction. With a sharp commercial mind, and strong relationship management and leadership skills, he has a proven ability to negotiate complex transactions and disputes.
• Scott McCoy, Sydney: a managing associate in banking and finance, Scott is a specialist in infrastructure finance, and regularly acts for lenders, borrowers and sponsors in complex greenfield developments, infrastructure acquisitions and debt capital markets transactions. Clients know Scott for his relationship building and strength in spotting opportunities.
• Franki Ganter, Brisbane: Franki joined Allens in January as an M&A and corporate advisory expert. She advises private and public sector clients on strategic M&A, privatisations, restructures, capital raisings, capital management and corporate governance issues. She also regularly advises on ASX Listing Rules, the Corporations Act, and Foreign Investment Review Board compliance.

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