Michael Ryan
Consultant
"I guide my clients through doors, not into walls."
You need a good knowledge of the law, but it is useless if you can’t use it to your client’s advantage. Through many years in a busy high level corporate practice Michael had provided his clients detailed and specialised legal knowledge with the ability, judgement and commercial experience to give them the best possible service and outcomes.
Michael’s advice is never theoretical. It is given knowing that clients are busy and need us to help them. Lawyers who work for him are always schooled to place themselves in our clients’ shoes and ask whether we are helping.
In a negotiation he can, in concert with his clients, identify issues of importance and ignore the distractions. If he comes across a barrier or stalemate, he works hard with his client, using his experience to find alternatives and compromises to ensure success.
Michael’s practice includes providing corporate and commercial advice to clients in the oil and gas industry, to listed public companies, Australian businesses of all sizes and the Australian branches of multinational companies. It includes specialist Corporations Act advice including capital raisings, insider trading issues, public company takeovers, Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listing rules and continuous disclosure issues.
Spacer Technologies — advised Spacer, a peer-to-peer platform, on its acquisition of Where I Park Inc.
Biotech fundraising — acting for listed biotech companies in numerous of debt and equity capital raising since 2013, including rights issue, IPOs and placements with domestic and US financiers.
Multi-Option Facility for International Software and Service Provider — advised an international software and service provider in relation to its refinancing of a secured multi-option facility agreement involving both revolving and non-revolving loan facilities. Due to the global reach of our client’s business, it was necessary that the facilities be available and repayable in multiple different currencies, with the ability to change between currencies at any time. The new debt facility also provided funding for our client to explore new acquisition opportunities.
Hostile takeover of junior gold explorer — takeover bid involving two ASX-listed gold junior explorers, whose fates were intertwined by a longstanding farm-in and joint venture agreement. The complexity of the takeover bid reached new heights with the commencement of Takeovers Panel proceedings in relation to a myriad of legal issues arising from the takeovers provisions of the Corporations Act.
Petronas — represented PETRONAS in Australia for over 15 years.
InvoCare Limited — advising and acting on over 20 large and small acquisitions and daily corporate and commercial advice.
Canadian Shipping Lines (CSL) — long time legal adviser.
Recognition
Best Lawyers in Australia™ — Mergers & Acquisitions Law — NSW — 2021 - 2024
Doyle's Guide — Leading Corporate Lawyers: Recommended — NSW — 2020
Committees and memberships
Member, Association of International Petroleum Negotiators
Practice Areas
Industries
Technology
Biotech
Funeral
Health
Mining, Oil & Gas
Qualifications
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Finance and Systems)/Laws, University of New South Wales
Master of Laws, University of Sydney
“Michael gets to the point quicker and resolves issues faster, meaning that we receive better value for our legal spend.”
Andrew Smith, CEO and Managing Director, InvoCare Limited