Mark leads our firm with purpose – connecting strategic direction with practice and people, and advancing Gadens’ position as a leading independent Australian law firm.
Biography
Mark has been a partner in leading Australian and global law firms for over 30 years. In addition to working on market-leading transactions and cases, he has spent much of his time leading and creating high-performance law firms and teams.
Mark combines deep industry expertise with a forward-thinking approach to leadership. He shapes the firm’s culture, champions diversity and inclusion, and ensures Gadens continues to act with independence, ambition and integrity.
Throughout his career, Mark has advised clients through complex commercial matters and high-value transactions, major projects, strategic advisory and litigation across many sectors – having acted for major Australian and international corporates, nation-states and high-net-worth individuals.
He has been consistently recognised for his work in major legal directories for over 20 years, including Chambers, Legal 500, IFLR1000 and Best Lawyers.
Beyond practice, Mark is committed to the broader community. He is a member of the International Bar Association’s Law Firm Management Committee (AI Sub-Committee), is a Fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia and a former national director and NSW President of the Australian Mining and Petroleum Law Association (AMPLA). He is a director of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Foundation and has served as a director of Abbeyfield Society, which provides non-hostel housing for elderly people, the Port Adelaide Football Club Advisory group and Factory 49, an organisation supporting galleries and artist residences in Sydney, Paris and New York.
Mark's experience
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APA Group
Advised on the $9bn Alinta and AGL schemes, and the $535m acquisition of Allgas, the $450m hostile bid for GasNet, the $170m acquisition of DirectLink and numerous other acquisitions and project developments. -
Sumisho Coal Australia Holdings (Sumitomo)
Advised on the US$1bn acquisition, with Glencore, of 80% of the Clermont coking coal project, QLD; and the $555m acquisition of Xstrata’s interests in the Oaky Creek, Newlands, Collinsville, Abbott Point and Rolleston projects, along with all related offtake contracts and marketing arrangements. -
Manchester Unity and HCF
Advised Manchester Unity on its $300m merger with HCF, and then HCF on its subsequent proposed merger with HBF, combining $5bn of assets. -
The state of Timor-Leste
Advised on the US$1bn acquisition of energy interests in the Sunrise basin from Shell and ConocoPhillips. -
British Aerospace
Acted on the Bushmaster contract with the ADF, and its development of Hornet Radar Evaluation Facility. -
Ricegrowers
Advised on its proposed $600m deal with EBRO Foods.
Awards, recognition and rankings
- Best Lawyers in Australia 2027 – Recognised for Corporate Law, Energy Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Mining Law, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law
- IFLR1000 2026 – Highly regarded practitioner, M&A (practice) and Oil and gas (sector)
- Australasian Lawyer Law Firm Leaders of the Year Report 2025 – Recognised
- Australasian Law Awards 2023 – Law Firm Leader of the Year (101-500 employees)