Herbert Smith Freehills’ Private Equity and Venture Capital team has advised Atlassian on its acquisition of Brisbane tech firm ThinkTilt together with international firm, Hogan Lovells.

Founded in 2016, ThinkTilt has developed ProForma a no-code/low-code form builder for Jira, Atlassian’s software development tool.

The Herbert Smith Freehills team was led by partner and Head of Venture Capital Peter Dunne, Co-Head of Venture Capital Elizabeth Henderson, solicitor Catie Moore, senior associate Candice Heggelund, executive counsel Melanie Bouton, and solicitor Katherine Sharp, together with associate Sean McDermott and senior associate Shawn Williamson working across the firm’s Sydney and London offices. Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills partner Toby Eggleston also advised on the transaction.

Peter Dunne said, “Atlassian has gone from a start-up funded with a $10,000 credit card to be a global software giant bringing other emerging tech companies into its fold. Herbert Smith Freehills has been privileged to work with Atlassian and its founders from its first raise as is has grown to a world class business. This transaction is an example of an increasing number of acquisitions for growth in the tech sector, and we congratulate Atlassian and ThinkTilt’s founders on their new relationship.”

This deal is another example of Herbert Smith Freehills’ market-leading work in Australian venture capital and founder liquidity transactions. Other recent examples include:

Adairs Limited’s NZ$80 million acquisition of Mocka Group from its founders

Atlassian’s 2019 acquisition of Code Barrel from its founders

the A$125 million merger of thedockyard and Ansarada and capital raising and re-listing of the merged entity on the ASX

SafetyCulture on its A$60.5 million Series C capital raise and secondary sale.