Bio

Deborah Johns is a partner in Gilbert + Tobin’s Corporate Advisory Group. Deborah advises on corporate and commercial transactions, with a special focus on funds establishment and complex joint ventures. She also handles a broad range of business acquisitions and disposals, corporate governance and general corporate and commercial matters. Deborah joined Gilbert + Tobin in June 2002 and became a partner in 2007. Deborah’s funds practice focuses on the entire lifecycle of infrastructure, private equity and venture capital funds - from establishment, to portfolio build, to winding down. She has represented numerous fund managers and investors and has extensive experience with different fund vehicles, including both partnerships and trusts. In addition to structuring and documenting funds, Deborah assists fund managers with a wide variety of regulatory issues, including AFSL, FSR and AML/CTF compliance. Deborah has particular expertise in dealing with collective investment vehicles that have special restrictions (MITs, VCLPs, ESVCLPs, IIF licences and government grant programs). In addition to establishing funds and assisting fund managers with their ongoing management functions, Deborah also handles the acquisition and divestment work of many of her fund clients. Deborah has over 27 years of M&A experience around the world, acting for both buyers and sellers in a wide range of transactions. Deborah has also advised a range of government and private clients on long-term, complicated joint venture arrangements in Australia and internationally. Deborah is also an expert in matters relating to the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act 1975 (Cth) and is a member of the Law Council’s Foreign Investment Committee. She has assisted a number of state-owned entities to obtain foreign investment approvals. Prior to joining the firm, Deborah worked in the Hong Kong office of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, a large New York-based firm, representing clients in private equity transactions, direct foreign investment, strategic partnerships and project finance throughout Asia and in particular in the PRC, Taiwan and India. Deborah has also worked in the Chicago and Shanghai offices of former Chicago-based firm Altheimer & Gray. Deborah graduated in 1991 with High Honours from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (USA in World Affairs), a certificate in Asian Studies and certified proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. She received a fellowship to pursue a year of graduate studies at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University from 1991-1992 and received a J.D. with Honours from the University of Michigan Law School in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1995. Deborah was admitted to practice in Illinois in 1995 and New South Wales in 2004.