Allens appoints new workplace relations partner

Allens has promoted Veronica Siow to Partner in the firm's Workplace Relations practice.

Ms Siow specialises in the employment and IR issues that arise in an acquisition, divestment or privatisation of assets and provides strategic advice on the integration, restructure and redeployment of a workforce.

She has acted in the merger of Vodafone and Hutchison, the merger of Foxtel and Austar, Rio Tinto's sale of its Northparkes copper mine, and, in recent times, Frasers' acquisition of Australand, Brambles' global acquisition of the Ferguson Group, JBS' acquisition of Primo Foods and Allianz's acquisition of TIO's insurance business.

Ms Siow also advises clients on issues that arise under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and ASX Listing Rules in relation to senior executive appointments, remuneration, incentive schemes and separation packages.

Based in Sydney, Ms Siow has also worked extensively in Allens' Asian offices, where she developed a broad practice advising clients on matters involving employment law, mergers and acquisitions, foreign direct investment, asset sales and corporate restructuring. Clients with operations across the region continue to benefit from the insights and experience that Ms Siow gained from her time in Asia.

Ms Siow said she was proud and delighted to be appointed a Partner of Allens.

'This is a very interesting time to be working in employment law and industrial relations,' she said.

'With the Productivity Commission's recent issues paper on the workplace relations framework, there is going to be a renewed push for substantive reform. At the boardroom level, shareholder scrutiny of executive pay and accountability is continuing to intensify.

'I have the privilege of working in close partnership with our clients' legal and HR teams on significant issues affecting their people and operations, often with reputational significance, guiding them as they find the solutions that are right for their business.'

Allens Partner and National Head of the firm's Workplace Relations Group Peter Arthur congratulated Ms Siow on her appointment.

'Veronica is an outstanding lawyer who has shown a great ability to work closely with her clients to help them navigate the complex issues that can arise in large-scale commercial transactions,' Mr Arthur said. 'Veronica's appointment is a testament to her exceptional legal and commercial expertise, and demonstrates the strategic importance of the firm's Workplace Relations practice.'

Allens' Workplace Relations team was involved in some of the firm's largest transactions in 2014, including:

• Frasers' $2.6 billion acquisition of Australand
• BoQ's acquisition of the Investec business
• JBS' $1.45 billion acquisition of leading Australian smallgoods manufacturer Primo Foods
• PEP and Bain on their $872 million takeover proposal for Bradken
• Ferrovial's $1 billion plus takeover proposal for Transfield Services.

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