Former EY Australia Tax Partner, Craig Saunders, joins Ashurst in Melbourne

Ashurst has significantly enhanced its already strong international tax and M&A capabilities with Craig Saunders, formerly of Ernst & Young, joining the firm as a partner in the direct tax practice based in Melbourne.

According to Ashurst Managing Partner John Carrington: “Craig is a very experienced tax practitioner with extensive and widely recognised skills in M&A and international tax matters.

“His high-level technical advisory skills and extensive experience in advising on major transactions will be of enormous benefit to many of our clients. This is particularly the case given these capabilities will be enhanced by around the clock access to leading legal minds through Ashurst – with the capacity to provide a seamless service for all local, regional and cross-jurisdictional projects.

“Craig also has particularly deep industry knowledge around the issues facing investors in infrastructure and private equity, and has built strong relationships with key investment banks and private equity houses, predominantly working with them in M&A and refinancing transactions.”

New Ashurst partner Craig Saunders said he is excited about the opportunities that working for a premier global law firm like Ashurst will bring, with its elite client base, broad international footprint and coverage in the world’s major business sectors and financial centres.

“There is no doubt the inherently great culture at Ashurst was also an attraction. I have seen first-hand how well the firm operates over the years, having worked with a number of Ashurst tax practitioners during my time as a partner at Ernst & Young and before that, Deloitte.

“With the recent combination of Blake Dawson and Ashurst practices in Asia and the rebranding of Blake Dawson to Ashurst, it is certainly an exciting time to come on board.”