Erin Feros – September 2003
Partner
Brisbane
Erin.Feros@aar.com.au
View CV
Take
the initiative, look for opportunities to excel and impress and take that extra step to add value
for the client.
The challenge of achieving difficult outcomes for clients is what Erin Feros enjoys most about being a lawyer.
A partner in Allens' Brisbane office, Erin is a member of the Resources, Capital Markets and M&A practice groups. Part of the attraction of her work is 'putting together all the pieces of the jigsaw in a big transaction'.
A highlight of Erin's career was advising the Queensland Government on the $19 billion privatisation and merger of Suncorp and QIDC with Metway Bank, and the subsequent sell-down of the state's interest in the merged entity.
This was the largest transaction in Queensland's corporate history and the political environment at the time presented an additional challenge. Steering the merger facilitation legislation that Allens had drafted through the parliamentary process, and sitting in Parliament instructing the Treasurer on the legislation during heated debates when the balance of power was held by independents was a unique and challenging experience for Erin.
Erin acts for a number of major mining houses in project developments, restructures, acquisitions and disposals in the resources sector both within Australia and overseas. Erin was also a member of Allens' national team on the South Australian electricity privatisation, which meant weekly commutes to Adelaide. Erin was a director of Queensland Rail from 1997 to 1999 and very much valued the experience of seeing matters from the other side of the boardroom table.
After doing vacation work experience with one of Feez Ruthning's (now part of Allens Arthur Robinson) litigation partners, who did what seemed to a 'bright-eyed and bushy-tailed law student fabulously interesting defamation work for his media clients', Erin planned to be a litigator.
However, when she joined Feez Ruthning in 1985, she was placed in what was then a combined corporate and resources department. Although it was not her first choice, Erin found that she loved the variety and quality of the work and has continued to practise in these areas.
One of the first matters Erin worked on was the challenging and high-profile acquisition by BHP of Utah International, involving, among other things, the merger by way of universal succession and migration to Australia of certain US entities. Erin says this experience was 'very exciting for a young law graduate'.
Privatisations, resources law, capital markets, funds management and superannuation are her primary areas of expertise.
Erin was made a partner in 1988. She has also been a staff partner many times during her time with the firm and has enjoyed her role in training and mentoring staff.
'I like to see the younger lawyers developing and realising their potential,' she says.
'I would say to young lawyers: take the initiative, look for opportunities to excel and impress and take that extra step to add value for the client.'
Erin also advises young lawyers to gain respect by being themselves: 'Don't feel you have to play a role or adopt a persona you think is expected of you.'
Erin has always loved travelling, the bug having bitten early when she deferred her legal studies for 12 months to 'see the world'. She continues to list travelling to new and different overseas locations at the top of her interests outside work – 'together, of course, with the shopping that accompanies the travelling!'
