Press Release

Minter Ellison today announced that specialist finance partner Gemey Visscher has joined the firm in Perth.

Ms Visscher's appointment builds on the momentum of the firm's fast-growing Perth practice, which in the past four months alone has recruited partners (Adam Handley and Richard Guit) and partner designate (Mike Hales) to join the existing partners (John Prevost, Andrew Thompson, Leith Ayres and Ben Cockerill).

Commenting on the appointment, Chief Executive Partner John Weber said the firm was delighted to welcome a practitioner of Ms Visscher's calibre. "Gemey will further enhance our finance capabilities in Perth, particularly in the important area of project finance in the energy and resources sector. Her appointment highlights the firm's continued investment in the West Australian market and also strengthens our regional offering, especially in Greater China."

Ms Visscher, formerly a partner of Freehills in Perth for 15 years, is a leading project finance lawyer with strong credentials in commodity-based, general commercial and complex corporate financing transactions. She has more than 25 years' experience in financing projects (including major resource projects, hedging facilities and multi-jurisdictional work) both within Australia and internationally.

Ms Visscher will work closely with banking and finance partner Ben Cockerill and insolvency and restructuring partner Leith Ayres to offer clients tier one capabilities in the strategically-important Perth market. She will also work closely with the Co-Chair of the firm's China practice, Adam Handley, who is also based in Perth.

Commenting on her decision to join Minter Ellison, Ms Visscher said a key factor was the firm's focus on having strong relationships in Asia and a strong on-the-ground regional presence. "I'm particularly looking forward to continuing to work with all the major Australian banks as well as bringing my Chinese banking practice experience to the firm. Minter Ellison's reputation in banking and finance is first-class and its focus and track record on China is a great asset. I'm delighted to be joining the Perth team."

Educated at the University of Western Australia, Ms Visscher joined Freehills in 1987. For the past four years, she has been named as a best lawyer in the category of project finance & development and in the category of structured finance by Best Lawyers Australia. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Securities Institute of Australia and the American Chamber of Commerce Council of Governors, and is a Director of Foodbank (Western Australia) Inc.