Australian law firm Gilbert + Tobin has advised Japan’s Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group on its A$2.1 billion ($1.4 billion) acquisition of Australian pension administration firm Link Administration, which was represented by Herbert Smith Freehills.

In recent years, more and more law firms have brought on board chief innovation officers to shake things up, with the aim of getting vital competitive advantage in an industry often described as stagnant. Holders of this relatively new title share their vision and action plans on how to bring about effective disruptions to take their organisations forward.

Allens has advised a telecom tower unit of Singaporean telco SingTel and pension fund AustralianSuper on their A$3.58 billion ($2.68 billion) acquisition of rival Axicom, part-owned by Sydney-based investment bank Macquarie Group, which was represented by Gilbert + Tobin.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Gilbert + Tobin have advised Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, on the sale of its Australian operations to Japan’s Asahi for $11 billion. Asahi was counselled by Allen & Overy.

Nishimura & Asahi and Ashurst have advised Nisshin Seifun Group and its subsidiary Nisshin Flour Milling on their $950 million acquisition of Allied Pinnacle from Pacific Equity Partners, which was represented by Gilbert + Tobin.

Hall & Wilcox, which opened its Sydney office in February, has hired Danny Herceg as lead partner of its corporate/commercial team. Herceg joins from his own practice, Herceg Lawyers, which he had been running since 2002.