Business Transactions, Corporate Structures & Trusts

Our Practice

Our Business Services team has extensive experience in advising on the most effective corporate structure for commercial transactions by considering all of the risk, tax and legal liability issues. We act for many clients who invest in property, businesses and other assets. These clients range from private individuals to multinational companies. We assist our clients through the various stages of their business and/or investment life by providing strategic, practical and commercially effective legal advice and solutions.

We understand business and asset protection and the challenges and opportunities for our clients. This is why we have a specific team, Business Services, dedicated to this area of practice. Business Services aims to be a “one-stop” provider of advice and solutions for our business and investor clients.

Our services in this area include:

• assisting with “start-ups” – advising on legal structures to acquire, hold and protect assets and/or conduct business (e.g. companies, trusts, self managed super funds (SMSF’s) and partnerships) and establishing these structures
• assisting with business and investment transactions following “start-up” phase – restructuring, compliance, joint venture and development agreements, disposals and acquisitions, internal management and funding
• assisting with business and asset succession – exit strategies, succession arrangements and estate planning

Our Expertise

We have extensive expertise in:

• establishing structures such as companies, trusts, SMSF’s & partnerships
• advising about the restructure of legal entities
• sale and purchase of businesses
• due diligence on business acquisitions and sales
• reviewing and establishing franchise structures
• business licensing (including liquor licensing and gaming licensing)
• sale and purchase of companies/shares
• share issues/conversions and splits
• shareholder and unit holder agreements
• joint venture agreements and development agreements
• corporate governance and directors duties
• SMSF transactions (e.g. borrowings by SMSF’s)
• corporate advice
• advising on the duty implications of business transactions
• advising trustees/beneficiaries
• variations to trust instruments
• capital raising
• advising on strategies/arrangements for business succession
• wills & estate planning
• enduring powers of attorney and advanced health directives

Our Legal Team

Please refer your enquiries to:

Ben McGuire	| Special Counsel
Brad Clark	| Partner
John Lowes	| Partner
John Shand	| Special Counsel
Kaylie Bourke	| Associate
Sarah Lally	| Lawyer