Gilbert + Tobin has recruited a new M&A partner to its growing Melbourne office. 

 Ben Macdonald joins the firm from Deutsche Bank where he was previously a senior vice president in the natural resources group also in Melbourne.

Macdonald brings to G+T a wealth of experience in M&A and mining and resources. He has advised on a number of high profile transactions including advising Tata Steel on its response to Rio Tinto's A$3.9 billion takeover offer for Riversdale Mining and Xstrata on its successful A$514 million takeover offer for Sphere Minerals Limited.

Prior to being an investment banker Macdonald was a senior corporate/M&A lawyer at Freehills in Melbourne and spent time working at Allen & Overy in London. “He is an exceptional M&A and corporate lawyer with excellent mining industry knowledge and commercial acumen that will give our clients a competitive edge,” said managing partner, Danny Gilbert.

The Melbourne office has continued to grow since its inception in January 2010. Macdonald’s arrival will strengthen the M&A/corporate advisory team headed by Neil Pathak, who joined from Freehills in March last year. In recent months Gilbert + Tobin’s Melbourne office has advised a range of blue chip clients on high profile corporate transactions including Telstra in relation to the NBN process, Orica on its proposed Pilbara joint venture, PEP’s takeover of Spotless, DuluxGroup on its takeover bid for Alesco, M2 Telecommunications Group on its capital raising and Exxaro’s successful takeover of African Iron.

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