Meet the team
Thomas is a senior corporate lawyer with up to a decade of top tier experience working with corporates, tech startups, private equity sponsors and high net worth individuals.
Thomas’ expertise is in private capital transactions and M&A and brings experience partnering with clients through the lifecycle of a transaction.
Thomas was previously a Senior Associate at Herbert Smith Freehills where he worked primarily on venture capital transactions. Before Herbert Smith Freehills, Thomas was contracted as an M&A specialist lawyer in-house at EY’s Office of the General Counsel and previously spent 6 years at Minter Ellison and Norton Rose Fulbright advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and general corporate advice.
Thomas Kelly
Director - Legal Advisory
Tom Joffick
Associate Director - Corporate Advisory
Tom is a senior corporate adviser with top tier experience working with corporates, startups, private equity sponsors and high net worth individuals.
Tom’s expertise is in private capital transactions and M&A and brings experience partnering with clients through the lifecycle of a transaction.
Tom was previously an Associate Director in the Transaction Diligence team at Ernst & Young where he worked primarily on financial services buy-side, sell-side and capital markets transactions. Prior to Transaction Diligence, Tom has extensive experience in Assurance with a focus on technology, media & telecommunications based businesses in various stages of their development including ASX listed, large unlisted private businesses and startups.
Edwin is a lawyer with experience supporting clients on a range of corporate and commercial areas and loves to solve challenging legal issues.
Edwin graduated from the University of Auckland in 2020 with a conjoint degree in Bachelor of Laws (Hons) & Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Major).
Following graduation, Edwin worked at Deloitte Auckland as a Tax Consultant in both the China Services Group and the M&A Transaction Services teams. He has had prior experience in advising clients across domestic and cross-border acquisitions and divestments, with particular focus on the areas of tax due diligence, acquisition structuring, transaction documentation reviews and post-deal integration and support. Making full use of his law degree, Edwin decided to step away from tax accounting and embark on his legal career.
Edwin Zhang
Lawyer - Legal Advisory
Matt Laniewski
Analyst - Corporate Advisory
Matt is part of our corporate advisory team, working across M&A, capital solutions, and strategy development. Matt works with the team to serve clients across our key verticals, and has experience in other sectors, including industrials, raw materials & mining, and healthcare.
Matt holds a Bachelor of Aerospace Engineering with Honours from the University of New South Wales, and he has worked in investment banking at Grant Samuel, as well as in product at an aerospace technology startup.
Matt is an analytical problem solver at heart, who is energised by his work with clients and the team to achieve outstanding results.
Kate provides administrative support to the executives as well as paralegal support to the legal team.
Kate attended university in Liverpool, England and holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours. She has also completed negotiation and mediation courses. Following graduation, Kate worked as a paralegal before immigrating from Ireland to Australia.
Kate studied Business and Economics for 2 years and is developing this interest while making use of her law degree. Kate is adaptable and thrives on being part of a team, delivering her input with energy and enthusiasm.
Kate Hamill
Team Assistant & Paralegal
Amanda Cole
Office Manager & Team Assistant
Amanda has over 12 years experience in the administration field and over 6 years experience as an Office Manager at amaysim. She formed part of the admin team at amaysim including managing corporate calendars, maintaining office facilities, coordinating events and ensuring the smooth running of the office.
She loves creating a fun and upbeat working environment for her fellow colleagues and encourages and drives a positive and happy workplace.
She is first and foremost a mother to her two beautiful girls who are a spitting image of her.
Peter is an experienced corporate executive, entrepreneur, and board director, with expertise spanning the telco, technology, and energy industries. Not only is Peter one of Australia’s most knowledgeable advisers, but he also has extensive operational experience and background from his years spent running and growing businesses. Most notably, Peter was the co-founder and CEO of ASX-listed, amaysim.
Peter practiced as a lawyer from 1979 to 1994 and was a partner at Minter Ellison and then Gilbert & Tobin. He was also actively involved in the formation of Optus and BellSouth New Zealand and served as a director on both boards from inception.
Peter has held senior executive and CEO roles for large Australian and international organisations. He has served (and continues to serve) on a number of boards for private and public companies. He is currently also the CEO of Climatech Zero.
Alex Feldman
CEO & Managing Partner
Alex is a venture investor and corporate lawyer who is the driving force of Tiger & Bear Partners. Together with leading the firm, he provides valuable and strategic advice across the company’s projects and clients.
Alex was previously the Chief Strategy Officer and General Counsel for ASX listed amaysim where he was responsible for the legal and regulatory functions, as well as strategy, investor relations and corporate development opportunities.
Before amaysim, Alex worked as a Senior Associate at King & Wood Mallesons, specialising in major projects across the energy, infrastructure, and technology sector.
Alex is also on a number of boards, including Pendula and Sydney High School Foundation.
Peter O’Connell
Chair
Nick leads the corporate advisory practice at Tiger & Bear Partners by working to support businesses across their life cycle with strategy and operational advice, M&A, and capital solutions.
Nick has prior experience as an advisor, operator, and investor. He most recently led the strategy and corporate development team at ASX listed Tyro Payments working across a number of transformational transactions, the strategic investment portfolio and supported the CEO and Board with corporate strategy.
Prior to Tyro, Nick led engagements and transactions in the technology, legal, media and agricultural industry. Nick has managed and led teams in operational businesses including Sympli and Aurora Equus.
As an investor, Nick was investment manager at Social Ventures Australia (focused on impact investments) and then Yendys Growth (focused on listed and unlisted growth tech companies across Australia and the USA). Nick is an active angel investor and is part of the Startmate First Believer program.
Natalie Duncan
Chief Operating Officer
Natalie is an experienced manager who oversees the day to day running of Tiger & Bear Partners managing the finance, technology, HR and administration functions as well as providing paralegal support and project management.
Natalie previously spent over two years at ASX-listed, amaysim, working for the CEO and Executive Team as an Executive Assistant, as well as being responsible for the office admin team, facilities and events. She also has vast transactional experience on various M&A deals including managing due diligence processes, coordinating completion processes, providing integration and separation support (including project managing the execution of the wind-up of ASX-listed amaysim following the sale of its assets to Optus).
She spent over 11 years as a Legal Secretary at King & Wood Mallesons including 5+ years as a practice team administrator and training junior secretaries.
Nick Harrington
Executive Director - Corporate Advisory
Rochelle is a senior commercial advisor and corporate expert knowledge on M&A, litigation, intellectual property, contract negotiation and transactions across multiple sectors including telecommunications, technology, energy & infrastructure, pharmaceutical and biotechnology.
Recently, Rochelle completed a secondment as Acting Head of Energy Retail, helping to set up Ampol’s energy retailer division and was responsible for the strategic development, internal build and launch of the energy retail product.
Prior to Tiger & Bear Partners, Rochelle was in-house legal counsel at ASX-listed amaysim where she advised and coordinated multiple product development and integration projects across both retail energy and telecommunication sectors. Before amaysim, Rochelle spent 4 years with MinterEllison and Bird & Bird.
Rosa Smith
Director - Corporate Advisory
Rosa is a corporate development and financial markets specialist with more than a decade of experience in capital markets working in stakeholder management and strategic communications roles.
Rosa’s expertise is her ability to interpret and analyse trends to build compelling investment cases. She also brings experience in the development and implementation of capital raising strategies, corporate strategy and product development.
Rosa has worked across corporate M&A transactions in both an analytical and communications capacity. Prior to Tiger & Bear Partners, Rosa spent 2 years in-house at ASX-listed company, amaysim, managing the investor relations function and working across the firm’s M&A activity.
Rochelle Schuenker
Director - Legal Advisory
As an experienced senior lawyer, Ben has in-depth knowledge across a range of corporate commercial areas including contractual negotiations, dispute resolution, administrative law, competition and consumer protection, insolvency, insurance, professional responsibilities and public inquiries.
Having qualified as a solicitor at King & Wood Mallesons, Ben spent over a decade practicing as a barrister at the NSW Bar where he advised and appeared for numerous clients in all forums, including large Australian corporates in telco, infrastructure and building and construction.
Ben brings his wealth of expertise and his people-centered, outcomes-focused approach to every matter.
John Anderson
Associate - Corporate Advisory
John is a key member of our corporate advisory team, focusing on strategy development, capital raising, and M&A. His experience comes across various sectors, including software, energy, telecommunications, payments, and industrials.
Holding a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and International Business from Macquarie University, John also previously spent time at Pottinger, working in investment banking and focusing predominantly on strategy, industry analysis, and capital raising.
John is a dedicated team member and proven leader in both the workplace and elite sporting environments.
Ben Jacobs
Special Counsel - Legal Advisory
