He will work alongside partner Neil Pathak
Tony Damian has joined Ashurst to co-lead its M&A team in Australia, making the jump from Herbert Smith Freehills.
Damian will work alongside partner Neil Pathak. He brings significant deal experience to the firm, having won the Dealmaker of the Year award at the Australasian Law Awards four years in a row (2020-2023).
"We are delighted to welcome Tony Damian to Ashurst as a partner in our Corporate practice and as the Co-Head of the Australian M&A team with Neil Pathak. Tony has an enviable reputation as one of the top M&A lawyers in Australia and he is well-known in regional and global markets. His expertise, deal list and client relationships are outstanding, and he will be an excellent addition to our already strong M&A team", Ashurst global CEO Paul Jenkins said.
Damian took the lead on major transactions like Sydney Aviation Alliance's acquisition of Sydney Airport for $32bn, Santos' $80bn merger talks with Woodside Energy, and CSR Limited's $4.3bn sale to Saint-Gobain. He co-wrote the book Schemes, Takeovers and Himalayan Peaks and co-edited corporate law text Bootmakers, Boards and Rogues.
Before moving to Ashurst, he had been with HSF since 1996.
"I was drawn to Ashurst’s ambition, and to its outstanding array of Australian and global talent. It’s a great team that I have respected on the other side of deals for a number of years, such as ANZ's A$4.9 billion acquisition of Suncorp Bank. I look forward to making my contribution to the continuing success of the firm", Damian said.
