About Ben
Ben Mahoney practises in commercial and banking & finance law, focussing on large debt and equity financing and restructuring transactions.
He has acted for major corporations, funds, entrepreneurs and family groups in a range of finance, capital raising, property development, restructuring & insolvency and general commercial matters, including joint ventures, shareholder arrangements and business acquisitions.
Ben is consistently ranked as a leading lawyer in the areas of property and corporate finance by Chambers Asia Pacific and the Legal 500 Asia Pacific in which he has been highlighted for his “commercial, practical approach” and for possessing “versatile skills that include advising on debt and equity financings, and restructuring transactions”. Successive editions of the Legal 500 Asia Pacific recognise his expertise in the area of restructuring & insolvency, quoting sources describing him as “one of the most effective restructuring lawyers in Australia”.
Ben joined Arnold Bloch Leibler in 1998 and was admitted to practice in 1999. A year later, he returned to Monash University to complete a Master of Laws (Banking and Finance). In 2002 and 2003, Ben worked in Jersey (Channel Islands) in the finance and capital markets group of Mourant Ozannes, an international offshore commercial law firm specialising in international finance and commercial law. On returning to Arnold Bloch Leibler in 2003, Ben was appointed as a senior associate. He became a partner in 2006.
“Very active, very good at corralling a group of stakeholders and is across all the details.”
Practice focus
Ben’s practice focuses on the following areas:
- banking and finance transactions, including negotiating large debt and equity financing transactions, capital raising, property development finance, project finance, mezzanine finance and intercreditor arrangements
- large solvent and insolvent restructuring and workout transactions
- managed investment scheme and financial services law, and
- general commercial and corporate transactions, including joint ventures, shareholder arrangements, business acquisitions and restructuring advice.
Experience
Ben has acted for major corporations, funds, entrepreneurs and family groups in a range of finance, restructuring and general commercial matters, including:
Property finance
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Medical Properties Trust: in relation to the acquisition of $1.25 billion of hospitals from Australian private hospital operator Healthscope
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Impact Investment Group: debt and equity financing counsel and development structuring advice in relation to $500m+ fund-through and other commercial transactions
- IP Generation: in relation to the acquisition of an $800 million Australian retail shopping centre portfolio of Sydney and regional NSW neighbourhood shopping centres
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A large number of Australian property groups and developers: in relation to debt and equity financing transactions for property and portfolio acquisitions, development and construction facilities and joint venture arrangements.
Corporate finance
- Caspian Capital: in relation to its syndicated loan facility to finance the acquisition of Australian travel business, Journey Beyond
- Credit Agricole and the senior lenders: in relation to the international credit facilities to McDermott International engineering and construction group
- Victorian Funds Management Corporation: in relation to the joint venture with Lighthouse Investment Management to establish a $300 million specialised credit fund
- York Capital: in relation to a consortium’s acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank’s Hong Kong consumer finance business
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Redcape Property Fund: in relation to the takeover and recapitalisation of Redcape via a distressed debt control transaction
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Värde Partners: in relation to a consortium’s acquisition of GE’s $8.2 billion consumer finance business
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Pure Asset Management and Partners for Growth: in relation to multiple acquisition and corporate debt facilities with Australian technology, biotech and growth companies.
Restructuring & insolvency
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Australian Football League: advising on its $600 million ‘COVID season’ refinancing and club support agreement
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PWC, as deed administrators: in relation to the insolvency of listed retail fashion group PAS Group Limited
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KPMG, as deed administrators: in relation to the financing of the Pasminco Cockle Creek Smelter site
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Wingate (as financier) and Deloitte (as receivers): in connection with the insolvency of the Ralan and Gwelo property groups
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Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal: acting for a key stakeholder in relation to refinance and take-or-pay arrangements
Awards & recognition
Ben is recognised as a leading lawyer by various international guides to lawyers and law firms.
- Best Lawyers® International: banking & finance law, commercial law, insolvency & reorganisation law
- Chambers Asia Pacific: banking & finance: property and corporate finance and restructuring & insolvency, and
- Legal 500 Asia Pacific: banking & finance and restructuring & insolvency.
