Allens looks within to promote Vijay Cugati to head of M&A
Top-tier law firm Allens has tapped its internal talent pool to anoint a new head of M&A and capital markets.
Vijay Cugati has moved up to head of M&A and capital markets at Allens.
It is understood Vijay Cugati, fresh off advising Brookfield and EIG on their $18.7 billion bid for Origin Energy, took over the reins as Allens’ head of M&A past month.
It’s a high-power role that cements Cugati’s position in the uppermost echelons of Australian dealmaking. Allen’s 30-strong team of M&A partners have had their mitts on nearly every major transaction announced in the past year including working for Livent on its $15.7 billion merger with ASX-listed Allkem.
In Cugati’s case, that includes advising UBS on the Australian nitty-gritty of its regulator-ordered acquisition of Credit Suisse; Perth Basin gas player Warrego Energy on its recent take-private by Gina Rinehart and IFM Investors on its purchase of a 19.18 per cent in toll roads owner Atlas Arteria.
He is trading up after 24 years with the firm. An Allens lifer, he joined as a graduate in 1999 and was voted in as a partner in 2008. He would also serve as the co-head of Allens corporate practice.
Allens is currently the top M&A legal adviser on Bloomberg’s league tables, ahead of King & Wood Mallesons and Herbert Smith Freehills at the third and fourth spots. US law firm Weil Gotshal & Manages was in the second spot.
On Refinitiv’s numbers, King & Wood is in the lead followed by Allens and Freehills.
Read more on afr.com
