Draft:Johnson Winter Slattery

Johnson Winter Slattery
HeadquartersSydney, Australia
No. of offices6 (2026)[1]
No. of employees500+ (2026)[2]
Major practice areasCorporate and commercial
Key peopleJeremy Davis
(Managing Partner)
Aldo Nicotra
(Chairman)
Date founded1993; 33 years ago (1993)
Founder
  • Tony Johnson
  • Nigel Winter
  • Peter Slattery
Company typePartnership
Websitewww.jws.com.au

Johnson Winter Slattery (JWS) is an independent Australian commercial law firm. With offices in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane and Canberra,[3] the firm has 84 partners and over 250 lawyers, business development, finance, HR and IT professionals.[4][5]

History

Johnson Winter Slattery was established in 1993 as a boutique commercial law firm in Adelaide by Tony Johnson, Nigel Winter and Peter Slattery.[6] The firm began with nine partners and 20 staff.[6] Five of those partners joined from Finlaysons.[7]

JWS expanded interstate in 2004 when it opened its Sydney office.[8] Within seven years, the firm opened additional offices in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.[9] In 2022, JWS opened its office in Canberra.[10]

Following the retirement of Peter Slattery in June 2021, Jeremy Davis was appointed Managing Partner.[11]

In March 2025, the firm announced a strategic alliance with TMI Associates, one of the five largest law firms in Japan.[12]

Practice areas

JWS's sector expertise spans a range of industries, including clean energy and emerging technologies, data centres, defence, education, fashion, fast-moving consumer goods, healthcare, infrastructure and utilities, media and communications, mining, natural capital, oil and gas, and technology.

The firm's practice areas are:[13]

  • Arbitration
  • Board advisory & governance
  • Class actions
  • Competition & antitrust
  • Corporate crime & investigations
  • Cyber, privacy & data protection
  • Dispute resolution
  • Employment & industrial relations
  • Energy & resources
  • Environment & planning
  • Environmental, social & governance
  • Equity capital markets
  • Finance
  • Financial services regulation
  • Foreign direct investment
  • Funds management
  • Information technology & communications
  • Intellectual property & communications
  • Merger arbitrage
  • Mergers & acquisitions
  • Private equity & venture capital
  • Projects & construction
  • Real estate
  • Restructuring & insolvency
  • Tax
  • Work, health & safety

Clients

JWS is engaged by Australian and international corporations, investment funds and government agencies as legal counsel on transactions and disputes throughout Australia and surrounding regions. Its major clients include Qantas, Rio Tinto, Potentia Capital, Santos, TPG Telecom, Liverpool Partners, Microsoft, Origin Energy, ACCC and Unilever.[14][8]

In 2023-2024, JWS recorded A$9.7m in federal government legal work, ranking it among the top 10 law firms in Australia.[15]

Notable cases and transactions

The firm has advised on the following matters:

Pro bono

JWS supports community initiatives and not-for-profit organisations across Australia through pro bono legal work, charitable donations and sponsorships.

The firm’s pro bono practice was established in 2019.[32] It is a signatory to the National Pro Bono Target, committing to an average of 35 hours of pro bono work per lawyer, per year.[33][34] Since 2020, JWS has exceeded this target.[35] In 2024, it averaged 50 pro bono hours per lawyer.[36]

Organisations they support and provide pro bono services to include:

JWS is a signatory to Reconciliation Australia's Reflect RAP, indicating the firm's commitment to fostering an inclusive culture for First Nations People.[34]

Secondments

The firm has ongoing secondments with a number of community legal centres and charities, including the Justice and Equity Centre (formerly Public Interest Advocacy Centre), Marrickville Legal Centre, Human Rights Law Centre, Youth Law Australia and Street Law.[37][38][39]

Sponsorships

Since 2014, JWS has been a Major Partner and the official legal partner of the Australian Chamber Orchestra.[40]

Associations

International bodies of which the firm’s lawyers are members include the International Bar Association,[41] International Trademark Association,[42] International Fiscal Association,[43] International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property,[44] International Wine Law Association,[44] and the Association of International Petroleum Negotiators.[45]

Recognition

Awards

Recent awards won by JWS include:

  • Best Australian Law Firm & Best Professional Services Firm (A$100-$200m revenue) - Beaton's Client Choice Awards (2025).[46]
  • Technology, Media and Telecom M&A Legal Adviser of the Year - Mergermarket M&A Awards Australia (2023).[47]
  • Energy Law - Best Lawyers Law Firm of the Year (2023).[48]
  • Oil and Gas Law - Best Lawyers Law Firm of the Year (2022).[49]
  • Dispute Resolution Team of the Year - Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards (2020).[50]

Rankings

JWS is recognised in national and international directories. The Chambers Asia Pacific (2026) rankings recognise 36 practitioners across 23 practice areas.[51]

The Legal 500 Asia Pacific Guide (2026) ranked JWS in 21 areas of law with a Band 1 ranking in Media and Entertainment law.[52]

71 practitioners were named in the 2026 Best Lawyers in Australia, including 10 "Lawyer of the Year" award recipients and nine "Ones to Watch".[53]

Quay Quarter Tower in Sydney, JWS's headquarters

Notable lawyers

Notable lawyers and consultants of the firm include:

Offices

The firm has offices in the following cities:

References

  1. ^ Johnson Winter Slattery https://jws.com.au/who-we-are/. Retrieved 29 March 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ^ Johnson Winter Slattery https://jws.com.au/who-we-are/. Retrieved 29 March 2026. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ "Contact us". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  4. ^ "About us". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  5. ^ Tadros, Edmund (2025-12-11). "Explore the Law Partnership Survey results for the second half of 2025". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  6. ^ a b Kennedy, Alex (1993-09-10). "Sharpening the lawyer's pencil". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  7. ^ Ackland, Richard (1993-12-23). "Allens suffers an attack of 'boutiquism'". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2023-12-27.
  8. ^ a b Nickless, Rachel (2008-04-18). "JWS sees benefits in staying south". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  9. ^ "The making of a national firm: Johnson Winter & Slattery". Lawyers Weekly. 2011-06-02. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  10. ^ "Johnson Winter & Slattery Hires MinterEllison Duo for Canberra Office Launch". Law.com International. 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  11. ^ Neilson, Naomi (2020-06-30). "National firm appoints next managing partner". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  12. ^ "Japan's TMI breaks into Australia with JWS alliance". Law.asia. 2025-03-11. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  13. ^ "What we do". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  14. ^ "Johnson Winter Slattery". Global Legal Insights. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  15. ^ Mizen, Ronald (2024-08-01). "How the NACC helped a global law firm take top spot for taxpayer work". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  16. ^ "Media & entertainment". Johnson Winter Slattery. Archived from the original on 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  17. ^ Dolor, Sol (2017-10-20). "JWS acts as Unilever gobbles up Australian ice cream maker". Australasian Lawyer. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  18. ^ Dolor, Sol (2020-01-22). "JWS confirms work on pioneering financing for record-setting energy project". Australasian Lawyer. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  19. ^ "Review 2019" (PDF). Johnson Winter Slattery. June 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-03-22. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  20. ^ "Ruralco enters into Scheme Implementation Deed" (PDF). Ruralco Holdings Limited. 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  21. ^ "Michelle Guthrie back on ABC board agenda". The Australian. 2019-02-01. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  22. ^ Doraisamy, Jerome (2019-12-13). "Brewery giant advised on acquisition of craft beer business". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  23. ^ Dolor, Sol (2019-05-18). "JWS foils Timor-Leste's bid to dismiss US$328m case". Australasian Lawyer. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  24. ^ Dolor, Sol (2019-08-06). "Four firms work as Japanese company gulps down Australia's largest beer brewer". Australasian Lawyer. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
  25. ^ So, Jacqueline (2021-10-05). "JWS helps Microsoft acquire Brisbane startup". Australasian Lawyer. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  26. ^ Cameronne, Cindy (2022-08-17). "In defamation victory, High Court finds Google not a publisher". Lawyerly. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  27. ^ Pelly, Michael (2023-02-12). "High Court insolvency ruling to stop 'unfair' creditor claims". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  28. ^ Niesche, Christopher (2023-11-08). "Johnson Winter Slattery, Sheppard Mullin Advise on $1B Vineyard Sale". Law.com International. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  29. ^ Carolino, Bernise (2024-10-03). "JWS assists Archer Capital in illion/Experian deal worth about $820m". Australasian Lawyer. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  30. ^ Thompson, Sarah; Sood, Kanika; Rapaport, Emma (2025-02-28). "Potentia Capital divests Micromine for $1.35b to Weir Group Plc". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  31. ^ "Paul Reidy". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  32. ^ Australian Pro Bono Centre (December 2021). "Pro Bono Voco" (PDF). Australian Pro Bono Centre. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  33. ^ "Target Signatories (for Solicitors and Barristers)". Australian Pro Bono Centre. Retrieved 2023-12-25.
  34. ^ a b "Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan" (PDF). Johnson Winter Slattery. October 2022. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
  35. ^ Croft, Lauren (2021-11-11). "How this firm grew its pro bono practice by 300%". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2023-12-21.
  36. ^ a b "Our pro bono practice" (PDF). Johnson Winter Slattery. 2025-02-11. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  37. ^ "Charity partnerships and secondments". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  38. ^ "PIAC Annual Report 2022" (PDF). Public Interest Advocacy Centre. 2022-11-14. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  39. ^ Feik, Nick (July 2023). "Whistle while we work". The Monthly. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  40. ^ "Johnson Winter Slattery". Australian Chamber Orchestra. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  41. ^ "Robert Johnston". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  42. ^ "Christine Ecob". Johnson Winter Slattery. Archived from the original on 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  43. ^ "Richard Gelski". Johnson Winter Slattery. Archived from the original on 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  44. ^ a b "Chrystal Dare". Johnson Winter Slattery. Archived from the original on 2024-03-12. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  45. ^ "Alexandra Neovius". Johnson Winter Slattery. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
  46. ^ "2025 Client Choice Awards Winners". Client Choice Awards. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  47. ^ "JWS named Mergermarket 2023 Technology, Media and Telecom M&A Legal Adviser of the Year". Johnson Winter Slattery. October 2023. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  48. ^ "Announcing The Best Lawyers in Australia 2023". Best Lawyers. 2022-04-20. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  49. ^ "Announcing the 2022 Best Lawyers in Australia". Best Lawyers. 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  50. ^ "2020 Winners and Finalists". Lawyers Weekly. Retrieved 2023-12-22.
  51. ^ "Johnson Winter Slattery: Asia-Pacific Guide 2026". Chambers and Partners. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
  52. ^ "Johnson Winter Slattery > The Legal 500 Rankings". The Legal 500. Retrieved 2026-03-28.
  53. ^ "2026 Best Lawyers® in Australia showcases law firm talent, highlights Brisbane as emerging hub for top legal minds". Best Lawyers. Retrieved 2025-04-21.
  54. ^ Pelly, Michael (2023-05-18). "ASIC expert back on the tools with top law firm". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 2024-08-07.

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