Tony Sparks
Partner
Sydney
Tony Sparks
Partner
Sydney
Contact details
Tony advises on a range of corporate and fundraising transactions including equity capital raisings, mergers and acquisitions and general securities law matters.
Tony was voted 'Lawyer of the Year' in the 2021 edition of Best Lawyers in Australia (for ECM in Sydney) and is also included for M&A, Corporate Law, Corporate Governance and Financial Institutions. He is listed as a leading lawyer for capital markets in all major directories including Chambers Asia Pacific (included in Band 1), Legal 500 (Asia Pacific) (included in the 'Hall of Fame'), IFLR 1000 and the International Who's Who of Capital Markets Lawyers.
Tony has been the lead partner on Australasian Law Awards winning or shortlisted deals every year since 2016.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a Solicitor (New South Wales, Australia) 2000
Admitted as a Solicitor (England and Wales) 1996
Academic
Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Financial Services Institute of Australasia, 2005
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), The University of Exeter, 1990
Related articles
Publications: 08 April 2020
Covid-19 coronavirus: temporary changes to Australia's foreign investment laws
Australia has introduced significant temporary changes to the notification requirements under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act (FATA) administered by the Foreign Investment Review Board…
Experience highlights
Advising the lead managers of Life 360's IPO on ASX (the largest technology float for 3 years on listing).
Advising Property Exchange Australia on its AUD1.6bn dual track IPO and trade sale process.
Advising Link Administration Holdings on its AUD2.3bn IPO on ASX.
Advising the lead managers on Transurban’s AUD4.2bn, AUD1.9bn and AUD1bn accelerated entitlement offers (PAITREOs), to fund Westconnex, WestLink, and Brisbane Airport Link projects.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as a Solicitor (New South Wales, Australia) 2000
Admitted as a Solicitor (England and Wales) 1996
Academic
Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment, Financial Services Institute of Australasia, 2005
Bachelor of Laws (Hons), The University of Exeter, 1990
Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
- Life 360's IPO on ASX (acting for the lead managers).
- PEXA's AUD1.6bn dual track IPO/trade sale process.
- Transurban's AUD4.2bn, AUD1.9bn and AUD1bn accelerated entitlement offers (acting for the underwriters).
- Link Group's AUD2.3bn IPO on ASX.
- Acting for various issuers and underwriters on other notable IPOs including: Lattice Energy’s AUD1.56bn dual track IPO and trade sale (acting for a group of financial institutions); Bingo Industries AUD628m IPO (acting for Macquarie); Global Traffic Networks AUD383m IPO (acting for Macquarie); Australian Unity Office Property Fund AUD280m IPO (acting for a group of financial institutions); Moly-Cop's dual track IPO and trade sale (acting for a group of financial institutions); and Veda Group’s AUD1bn IPO.
- Acting for various issuers and underwriters on other notable secondary offerings including: Reece's AUD560m ANREO and placement to acquire MORSCO (acting for a global financial institution); Burson Group’s AUD218m AREO to fund its acquisition of Metcash Automotive (acting for a global financial institution); and Yancoal SCN’s USD1.8b documented traditional renounceable entitlement offer of subordinated notes (acting for a global financial institution).
- Acting on a wide range of domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions including HKEx listed Lei Shing Hong's acquisitions of various Mercedes-Benz car dealerships in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.
Pro-bono experience
- Preparing the industry standard IPO Due Diligence Planning Memorandum for the Australian Financial Markets Association. Assisting in regulatory submissions for the private equity sector through the Australian Investments Council. Contributing to submissions on law reform as a member of the Business Law Section of the Law Council of Australia
Recognition
One of the best ECM lawyers in Australia … provides excellent advice based on a wealth of experience and understands and considers our and our clients drivers for structuring transactions in a certain way.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2018
He is pragmatic and commercial. He works through potential challenges to find solutions.
Chambers Asia-Pacific 2019
Very knowledgeable, commercial
Legal 500 Asia-Pacific 2018
Tony has a very strong client focus. He is responsive and listens carefully. He is a high quality lawyer who cares about delivery of quality services.
IFLR 1000 2016
Awards
Equity Deal of the Year (Winner)
Australasian Law Awards 2019, Transurban's AUD4.2bn PAITREO to fund the WestConnex acquisition
Energy & Resources Deal of the Year (Winner)
Australasian Law Awards 2018, Lattice Energy (dual track IPO and trade sale)
Equity Deal of the Year (Shortlisted)
Australasian Law Awards 2020: Life360's IPO
