- Firm appoints new partner Jonathon Turner to Sydney commercial disputes practice
- Demand for restructuring and disputes expertise grows amid economic and geopolitical challenges for businesses
Lander & Rogers this week announced the appointment of new partner Jonathon Turner to its commercial disputes practice. Based in Sydney, the former Norton Rose Fulbright partner joins the firm's restructuring and insolvency team with a focus on growing contentious matters, complex litigation and restructuring.
Dual qualified in Australia, and England and Wales, Mr Turner's experience spans complex high-profile insolvency and contentious matters including Lehman Brothers, and appearing in superior courts in multiple jurisdictions including Australia, England and the Cayman Islands.
Mr Turner's move to Lander & Rogers comes in response to increasing client demand for specialised insolvency and restructuring legal services as businesses globally face worsening economic conditions.
According to Mr Turner, current economic volatility is proving challenging for many businesses, including in the US, UK and European markets, which he says are often a barometer for Australia's horizon, particularly regarding regulation and disputes. "Businesses across the globe are experiencing heightened financial pressures due to a range of factors, including rising inflation and interest rates, supply-chain issues, increased costs of goods, evolving compliance obligations and risk such as ESG issues, and geopolitical tensions", said Mr Turner.
The construction industry, said Mr Turner, is one such example. "Australia's residential and commercial construction sector has faced significant distress in recent years, in particular due to a rapid escalation in costs including materials; supply chain issues, inflation, interest rate rises and the continued effects of the pandemic such as labour shortages more than 12 months after the country has reopened'', he said.
While current economic conditions pose significant risks and challenges for businesses, Mr Turner believes there are also opportunities. "On one hand, there's the prospect of repositioning a company for growth and strengthening it for future success. This could mean rationalisation, diversifying supply chains, identifying alternative markets, or leveraging distressed debt or alternative lending options for those experiencing financial distress. On the other hand, there are opportunities for acquiring underperforming businesses or assets that, with structural change and the right support, represent profitable investments that can enhance overall business value for acquiring companies or funds."
Mr Turner believes advisors play an important role in identifying and executing upon these opportunities. "We work in partnership with clients and other professional advisers to identify issues and provide dynamic and long-term commercial solutions to strengthen performance and mitigate business risks. We look at operational and structural issues, and whether factors like additional capital or governance, structural, technology or workforce changes can help to improve the financial performance of a company," added Mr Turner.
Mr Turner takes this role seriously, acknowledging the importance of working in partnership with companies to achieve their commercial objectives, client-focused orientation he said is common to Lander & Rogers. "The firm is known among clients and the legal profession for its commerciality, collegiality, and culture of putting clients' interests first", he said.
"It's an approach that aligns with my own, and is vital to building a high-performing legal team that's sensitive to the needs of clients," said Mr Turner.
Welcoming the new partner, Commercial Disputes practice lead Johnathan Quilty noted Mr Turners' experience and network would further enhance the practice's breadth and depth of expertise. "Jonathon is recognised as a leading restructuring, insolvency, and complex litigation lawyer, and has worked on some of the most complex insolvency and litigation matters of our time during his career. His considerable knowledge and expertise will be of significant benefit to our clients and our firm as we embark on the next stage of our growth in Sydney," said Mr Quilty.
