Kain Lawyers is proud to have advised award-winning Australian MedTech company Planet Innovation Holdings Ltd on its strategic partnership with Meiban Group, including the sale of a 19.9% equity stake to the global manufacturing leader. The alliance creates a comprehensive Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisation (CDMO) platform serving the MedTech industry from initial concept through to large-scale production.

The strategic alliance transaction establishes a seamless pathway for MedTech clients, enabling them to leverage Planet Innovation’s innovation, design, and early-stage manufacturing capabilities in Australia and the United States before transitioning to Meiban’s advanced, automated mass-manufacturing operations across Southeast Asia.

Planet Innovation, established in 2009, has built a reputation as a leading MedTech innovator with over 300 professionals specialising in healthcare solutions, advanced engineering, and commercial strategy. Beyond product design and engineering, the company operates flexible manufacturing facilities designed to support early market entry and validation.

The Kain Lawyers team advising Planet Innovation Holdings was led by James Burchnall and Gerry Cawson with assistance from Gemma Kerin.

‘We thank the team at Kain Lawyers for their dedication and expertise in assisting us to forge our alliance with Meiban. Planet Innovation chose Kain Lawyers for their commercial focus in navigating the regulatory complexities in facilitating this transformative alliance.’ – Stuart Elliott, CEO, Planet Innovation Holdings Limited

We are pleased to announce that Kain Lawyers has once again been recognised in Best Lawyers’ 2026 edition of Best Law Firms.

This recognition celebrates excellence and professionalism across the Australian legal sector, and our National Tier 2 ranking in Mergers and Acquisitions Law underscores our ongoing strength as leading transaction specialists in the Australian market.

Thank you to our clients, peers, and industry leaders for participating in the research process.

Click here to read our client feedback and learn more about the Best Law Firms rankings.

Kain Lawyers is proud to congratulate our Directors named in the 2026 Best Lawyers in Australia. Kain Lawyers was represented across 15 practice areas, with 12 directors recognised as ‘Best Lawyers’ in Adelaide, Sydney, and Melbourne.

James Burchnall was named ‘Lawyer of the Year’ for Venture Capital Law, and five of our Associate Directors were named on the ‘Ones to Watch’ list. This is an outstanding reflection of the depth of the Kain Lawyers team and we would like to congratulate all on their listings and well-deserved recognition.

The Best Lawyers in Australia™ (2026 Edition)

James Burchnall

• Commercial Law
• Corporate Law
• Equity Capital Markets Law
• Investment Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Private Equity Law
• Venture Capital Law

Gerry Cawson

• Commercial Law
• Corporate / Governance Practice
• Corporate Law
• Equity Capital Markets Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Private Equity Law
• Venture Capital Law

Sarah Chia

• Agriculture and Rural Affairs
• Commercial Law
• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Private Equity Law
• Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice

Lauren Crosby

• Litigation

Michael Garry

• Agriculture and Rural Affairs
• Commercial Law
• Corporate Law
• Funds Management
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Venture Capital Law

Tim Hall

• Agriculture and Rural Affairs
• Commercial Law
• Construction / Infrastructure Law
• Corporate Law
• Trusts and Estates
• Wealth Management / Succession Planning Practice

Alyce Ricciardi

• Commercial Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Jason Vernik

• Leasing Law
• Real Property Law

Brian Vuong

• Commercial Law
• Corporate / Governance Practice
• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Jeremy Collins

• Real Property Law

Catherine Debreceny

• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

John Kain

• Commercial Law
• Corporate / Governance Practice
• Corporate Law
• Equity Capital Markets Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law
• Private Equity Law
• Venture Capital Law
• Water Law

Lawyer of the Year

James Burchnall

• Venture Capital Law

Ones to Watch

Nicholas Cardone

• Corporate Law

Travis Cordingley

• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Jack Dittmar

• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Stefan Harris

• Corporate Law
• Mergers and Acquisitions Law

Joshua Lee

• Construction / Infrastructure Law

Kain Lawyers is proud to share that we have been recognised as a First Tier firm in the 2025 Doyle’s Guide. Congratulations to Michael Garry, Gerry Cawson, James Burchnall, Tim Hall, Sarah Chia, Brian Vuong, and Jacob Thomas for their individual listings as Preeminent, Leading and Recommended Lawyers!

This acknowledgment reflects our market-leading position as transaction specialists, driven by our exceptional team and their continued focus on achieving value for our clients. Congratulations to all!

#TransactionSpecialists #KainLawyersSydney #KainLawyersMelbourne #KainLawyersAdelaide

We are pleased to announce that Kain Lawyers has again been ranked in the Legal 500 Asia Pacific: Australia 2025 guide for Corporate and M&A.

The Legal 500 uses a comprehensive research program to analyse the capabilities of law firms worldwide, highlighting those that provide the most cutting-edge and innovative advice.

Thank you to our clients and colleagues for their continued support and recognition of our expertise as transaction specialists.

Kain Lawyers is honoured to have received the Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards Transaction Team of the Year.

The esteemed award recognises the exceptional performance of the Kain Lawyers team over the past 12 months, having advised on high-profile transactions across a diverse range of sectors, including private equity, venture capital, private credit, property, and real asset fund management.

During this period, the firm advised Roc Partners on its acquisition of Pace Farms, SILK Laser Clinics (ASX:SLA) on its $180 million acquisition by Australian Pharmaceutical Industries (ASX:WES), and Symphony on four simultaneous M&A transactions to establish its platform of capabilities. Additionally, the firm advised KeyInvest Ltd on its merger with Australian Friendly Society Limited, managing combined funds of approximately $400 million, and Kelsian Group Limited (ASX: KLS) on its US$325 million (~A$487m) acquisition of All Aboard America! Holdings Inc. (AAAHI) and the related A$281 million capital raising.

Kain Lawyers Managing Director, John Kain, said the calibre of these transactions reflects the firm’s strategic depth and expertise, consistently delivering value to clients in a dynamic market.

“Throughout FY2024 we observed robust supply and demand for mid-market capital transactions, alongside a growing appreciation for specialist mid-market services. With our continued growth, now supported by over 65 professionals across offices in Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, we are thrilled to receive this recognition, affirming our position as a leader in mid-market transactions.”

Kain Lawyers is listed in the global publication Legal 500 as one of Asia Pacific’s leading Corporate M&A Firms. The firm has also been listed as a First-Tier corporate law firm in Doyles Guide since 2016.

Kain Lawyers recently celebrated 20 years in business. Kain Lawyers was established 20 years ago to create opportunities for our clients, our team, and our community. As we reflect on the last 20 years we thank our team, our clients and our community partners for the trust which they have placed in us. Thank you to all who have been involved in our journey so far. As Australia’s mid-market transaction specialists, Kain Lawyers looks forward to creating opportunities for our clients, our team, and our community for the next 20 years. #transactionspecialists

Kain Lawyers is proud to announce we have been named finalists for Transaction Team of the Year in Lawyers Weekly Australian Law Awards 2024. It has been another successful year for our team, made possible through our entire team’s dedication to each other and our clients. Congratulations to all who are nominated and best of luck on awards night. hashtag#transactionspecialists

Kain Lawyers has been listed in Doyle’s Guide 2024 as a First Tier Agribusiness Law Firm, with Tim Hall and Michael Garry receiving individual recognition as Leading and Recommended Agribusiness Lawyers respectively. The Doyle’s Guide is a comprehensive directory showcasing Australia’s best firms and lawyers, and these rankings reflect our continued performance as leading transaction specialists in the Australian market. hashtag#transactionspecialists

We are pleased to announce that Kain Lawyers has been recognised in Best Lawyers’ inaugural edition of Best Law Firms 2025, with the exclusive list recognising the top 2% of firms nationwide. Best Law Firms celebrates the superior quality and professionalism of the Australian legal community, and our national M&A ranking reflects our continued performance as leading transaction specialists in the Australian market. #transactionspecialists