Associated British Ports (ABP) has hired its first lawyer since being taken over by the Goldman Sachs-led consortium Admiral Acquisitions in June.

Australian Julie Galligan, an associate in SJ Berwin‘s corporate team, joins the port operator as the sole assistant to general counsel Andrew Garner, who joined in October last year.

Garner said: “We have a lot of work to do here and as well as dealing with day-to-day legal work one of my goals is also to begin looking at some of the underlying legal issues here. Julie will help me in both.”

Regular adviser Slaughter and May advised ABP during its takeover, led by corporate finance partner Richard de Carle. For other work the company uses firms including Bond Pearce, CMS Cameron McKenna, Macfarlanes, Simmons & Simmons, Taylor Wessing and Wragge & Co.