Publication
It's Public
Welcome to It's Public. Your go-to publication and podcast for Australian public M&A.
27 July 2026
Insight
Back, but selective: global and cross-border M&A
If you had to sum up the global M&A market in mid-2026 in a single phrase, it would be ‘back, but selective’.
27 July 2026
Insight
Despite geopolitical volatility, dealmakers keep moving
If the first half of 2026 was expected to be defined by geopolitical uncertainty, the Australian M&A market told a different story.
27 July 2026
Publication
Doing Business - Mallesons’ Guide to Doing Business in Australia
Doing Business - Mallesons’ 2026 guide to doing business in Australia - is your essential resource for investing and undertaking business operations in the Australian market.
30 April 2026
Insight
AI data centres in Australia: breaking down barriers to investment
AI data centres in Australia: breaking down barriers to investment
29 April 2026
Insight
Dealmaking: the new cartography
Geopolitics has transformed dealmaking, shaping and influencing transactions. Deals are now as much a reflection of political geography as they are a business opportunity.
12 March 2026
Insight
SOCI update: proposed enhancements to CIRMP Rules
At the end of 2025, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) released a consultation paper for proposed enhancements to the Security of Critical Infrastructure (Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program) Rules 2023 (CIRMP Rules) for certain asset classes (Consultation Paper).
30 January 2026
Insight
Business leaders reveal their next direction
Australian directors and senior business leaders have spoken in this year’s KWM Directions 2025 Report: Stepping Up To The Productivity Challenge – our essential guide to what is ‘top of mind’ in boardrooms across the country.
12 December 2025
Publication
OnBoard December 2025
Leading market insights purposefully curated for directors, general counsel and company secretaries.
12 December 2025
Publication
DealTrends
Welcome to KWM’s DealTrends in FY24 and FY25, our annual market report on Australian Private M&A deals between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2025.
11 December 2025
Insight
Australia's AI Plan: Where is Australia going with AI?
We map the key elements in the Australia Government's National AI Plan.
05 December 2025
Insight
Back to the future: the re-emergence of the golden share
And like Marty McFly – golden shares are back conferring on governments rights about strategic matters, including the identity of future owners.
11 November 2025
Insight
It's Public: November 2025
Welcome to the third edition of It’s Public, your go-to publication and podcast for Australian Public M&A.
11 November 2025
Insight
FIRB / ACCC: Approval pathways converge
FIRB recently announced policy changes to streamline its application process and reduce regulatory duplication, requiring applicants to disclose information about competitive overlaps between merger parties.
21 October 2025
Insight
Navigating Australia’s evolving M&A regulatory landscape: a strategic playbook for financial sponsors
It will not have escaped those participating in Australia’s M&A ecosystem that the regulatory burden has evolved substantially, particularly over the last 5 to 10 years. The days of a single relatively administrative filing obligation, and possibly a couple of informal chats with industry and market regulators to confirm positions, have for most participants long disappeared. Today, the M&A regulatory framework is significantly more complex and dynamic. For those participating, it now offers less upfront clarity, takes longer and costs more to navigate.
15 August 2025
Insight
Updates to the Annual CIRMP Report webform
Responsible entities who are submitting their 2025 Critical Infrastructure Risk Management Program (CIRMP) report should be aware that the form was updated by the Critical Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) in April this year.
24 July 2025
Insight
Enforcement starts now: Grace period for defence export controls is over
Significant and wide-ranging changes to Australia’s defence export controls regime were introduced in September 2024.
08 May 2025
Insight
Conditionally yours: tackling FIRB uncertainty in foreign bids
Tectonic shifts in the global order are seeing security and economic considerations collide. While nations like Australia will proclaim to be ‘open for business’ and welcoming of foreign investment, actions speak loudly.
25 March 2025
Insight
CISC is consulting on rules to be made under Omnibus Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Package
The Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre (CISC) is consulting on proposed new rules to support the implementation of the Government’s recently assented Omnibus Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Package. Consultation closes on 14 February 2025.
24 January 2025
Insight
‘The great wait’ - How will the upcoming federal election impact your FIRB application?
With another Federal Election looming on the horizon in 2025, we are expecting that the processing time of FIRB applications will be impacted, potentially (with other factors considered) even up to mid-2025.
10 December 2024
Insight
First CIRMP annual reports under the SOCI Act - due soon
Responsible entities who are subject to the Security of Critical Infrastructure (Critical infrastructure risk management program) Rules (LIN 23/006) 2023 (CIRMP Rules) are required to submit their first annual report within 90 days of the end of the financial year (by 28 September 2024). Responsible entities should now be taking steps to prepare the annual report to ensure it is ready to submit by the deadline.
10 July 2024
Publication
KWM's Guide to Doing Business in Australia 2024
KWM’s Guide to Doing Business in Australia is your essential companion to unlocking Asia Pacific growth and innovation opportunities.
10 May 2024
Insight
Strengthening and streamlining Australia’s FIRB muscle: making foreign investments work harder
For years Australia has been adding layer upon layer of complex foreign investment rules and powers.
01 May 2024
Insight
Australia’s Foreign Investment Regime and Critical Minerals – “major overhaul” to be announced today by the Treasurer
As the global energy transition continues to develop, change is on the horizon. Global critical mineral supply and demand, technological development, and the clean energy transition will continue to drive investment as government and industry stakeholders look for opportunities.
01 May 2024
Insight
The Dispatch - March 2024
We’re excited to bring you the first edition of The Dispatch for 2024 with a renewed focus on celebrating your teams and clients transaction wins.
26 March 2024
Insight
Investing in Australia? Here’s what you need to know about Australian FDI in 2024
The new year brings another evolution of the FIRB landscape. It is well known that the FIRB landscape is constantly shifting in open and not so open ways.
15 February 2024
Insight
FIRB fee reductions: a boost for investment in build-to-rent
Just in time for Christmas, the Australian Treasurer announced a welcome change to the treatment of build-to-rent (BTR) projects under the foreign investment regime.
12 January 2024
Insight
Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets
Just when you thought the FIRB regime could not get more complex. Foreign investors in Australia will need to be prepared for new registration obligations under Australia’s foreign investment regime. The Register of Foreign Ownership of Australian Assets (New Register) is expected to start operating on 1 July 2023.
23 March 2023
Publication
M&A in the City 2023
Coming into 2023, macro-economic headwinds - inflation, rising interest rates, and unrest overseas – are still lingering from the previous year. Will we see a renewed surge of M&A activity, will the market remain as is, or will we return to pre-2021 deal activity (or worse)? It’s anyone’s guess.
16 February 2023
