Steve Johns and Emma Maconick join EY Law as partners

EY Law has strengthened its leadership team in the region with two new partners. Steve Johns and Emma Maconick both cross from tier-one law firms.

Based in Sydney, Steve Johns focuses on corporate law, specialising in cross-border M&A and joint ventures, shareholder arrangements, corporate restructures, commercial arrangements, and foreign investment regulation. He focuses mainly on projects in the technology and services sectors.

Johns previously was a partner at law firms Bird & Bird, Norton Rose Fulbright and Corrs Chambers Westgarth.

“As an M&A lawyer with a focus on cross border and strategic transactions, and particularly transactions in the technology and services sectors, EY’s deep knowledge of industries and sectors gives me a unique insight into businesses and the challenges they face. EY also gives me the global reach, platform and people to serve my clients better, wherever they are located,” said Johns of his new challenge.

EY’s M&A offering is led by the firm’s Strategy & Transactions division, with EY-Parthenon in the lead for strategic work. EY Law provides the legal grounding for deals and transactions.

Based in Auckland, Emma Maconick is partner in EY Law’s New Zealand team. She also leads the Oceania Data and Technology law team across Australia and New Zealand. She focuses on the legal aspects of digital-driven innovation (intellectual property), corporate transactions, law privacy, cyber security, and artificial intelligence, and works primarily with technology and data intensive businesses.

Commenting on her transfer from Shearman & Sterling (she previously also was a partner at King & Spalding), Maconick said: “I have had the privilege of serving sophisticated clients in the US and the UK for over 20 years, and it's clear that one of the greatest opportunities ahead of us will be around how we develop, leverage, manage and dispose of our global digital capabilities.”

“Leading the team that supports clients, governments and communities on that journey in New Zealand and Australia is an exciting challenge that I look forward to.”

Globally, EY Law has about 3,500 professionals in more than 80+ countries, 2,400 of which are legal advisors. In Oceania, the practice is led by Sarah Ralph.