Andrew has a broad skillset, based on a diversity of professional experience. He has worked as a tax accountant (with a Big 4 firm), as a merchant banker (in structured finance with Macquarie Bank), and as a lawyer (in national and international practices in Australia and the United Kingdom). Since returning to Australia in 2001 he has run his own mid-market law firm with offices in Sydney and Adelaide.

In the early part of his career Andrew practiced law at the big end of town, as a tax specialist with an emphasis on corporate and international tax laws, (gaining experience in transactions impacting UK, US and Asian jurisdictions). He has also acted for the SA and NSW state governments (and instrumentalities) and several infrastructure funds, on structuring asset transactions (in ports, rail, regional infrastructure and asset fleets).

When at Macquarie Bank and Travers Smith (in London) Andrew gained exposure to private equity funds and their transactions, including cross-border deals (principally UK-Europe, UK-USA) and public market transactions (public-to-private and public offers). Andrew later gained first-hand experience in these areas as a significant shareholder and board member of a medical device company that raised private equity and then listed on the ASX. He continues to apply this experience when advising entrepreneurs on capital raisings, and boutique funds managers on establishing pooled investment vehicles.

In addition to directorships with his own businesses, Andrew has acted as an independent director or company secretary on several boards, including one of India’s largest diversified software houses, a space services and infrastructure company, an international chain of furniture stores, a successful boutique winery in the Mornington Peninsula, a high-growth VC-backed international online retailing business, a large national charity, an outsourcing business in the Philippines, and a financial services business with its own ASIC licence.

Andrew holds bachelor degrees in commerce and law (from The University of Adelaide), and a masters degree in law majoring in international tax and investment law (from Melbourne University).

Andrew has been awarded the rare designation of an Accredited Specialist in Business Law (Law Society of NSW), as well as being a Chartered Tax Adviser (Taxation Institute of Australia (TIA)) and a Fellow of the Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP). Andrew has been recommended by Doyles Guide for his taxation expertise from 2019 to 2025 (inclusive) and recommended for his estate planning expertise in 2024.

Andrew is admitted to practice law in Australia, England and Wales. These days Andrew applies his considerable technical skills and experience to assist entrepreneurs, investors and their families. These range from small start- ups to major international businesses – with the common thread being an entrepreneur or family at the centre of the enterprise.

Business owners enter into lots of agreements – partnership agreements, shareholder agreements, goods and services contracts, employment agreements, leases, loan agreements, bank guarantees etc. etc. … You might be wondering, does the agreement I just signed say what I think it does’? Are my rights protected? Are my responsibilities clearly defined? Am I going to get paid? What happens if something goes wrong? You are right to be concerned, it’s a lack of clarity about these things that results in people ending up in court.

Louise will guide you through the process of putting in place the right agreement, whether it’s an agreement we prepare for you, or review on your behalf. If you find yourself in a business dispute, Louise will provide you with a clear path to a successful conclusion, either by negotiation or litigation.

As a Principal of our firm with a primary-schooler at home, Louise is not one to waste time. She understands that you have lots of things to get on with too, and she wants to help you achieve them. She has over a decade of experience helping business owners and wealthy individuals move confidently into the future.

The lifecycle of a business is both nuanced and broad-ranging.  It is essential that business owners have the appropriate advice at every stage of the lifecycle, from the exciting start-up to the exit. 

Drew has guided many businesses owners through the whole journey that a business can take them on from assisting clients to structure their businesses effectively, advising them during the capital raising phase and ensuring their continued business dealings are conducted on the right footing.  Whether you are buying, selling or merging your business or require advocacy during a dispute, Drew has your back.

Drew also acts regularly for insolvency practitioners across multiple states, which gives him specific insight into how they approach particular issues.  This insight enables Drew to provide specialised advice to business owners who are facing an insolvency issue, whether they themselves have solvency problems or are dealing with someone that has. 

If your business is facing a significant event, be it an exciting opportunity or a distressing issue, Drew can be trusted for clear, actionable advice and a practical plan for implementation.  With the right advisor on your side, even the most challenging situations can be managed to ensure your business stays a success. 

Drew has developed specialised knowledge in the field of insolvency over his career and is a current board member of the Association for Business Restructuring and Turnaround and former committee member of the Australian Restructuring Insolvency & Turnaround Association. 

You’ve worked hard to build your wealth so you can look after your family and foster the next generation. The problem is that it’s not entirely clear how you do this in practice. How do you pass on your wealth in a way that’s not counter-productive, and doesn’t end up hurting the next generation? You want to avoid disputes and lost opportunities.

The good news is that there are clear strategies to make estate planning work. Hannah will guide you through what’s necessary to put the right solutions in place. After this process is complete, you will have set up the next generation for success, and have genuine peace of mind.

Hannah was brought up in a family that always ran its own business. Her father was one of 14 siblings in a South-East Asian trading family, so she has seen first-hand how a family can build a successful dynasty, as well as what can bring everything unstuck. Over the past 20 years she has worked with many families, and knows that getting your estate planning in order is not a one-off occasion, but a lifelong process.

You have significant wealth to pass on to the next generation. You want to involve other family members in your wealth management and decision-making processes, but you don’t know how. As with all family enterprises, your legal issues are multi-faceted and need to take into account family dynamics, existing investment and business structures, as well as competing personal goals. Without a solid plan in place, the next generation might become resentful and disillusioned, leading to family tension, relationship breakdowns and disputes.

Kasia will guide you through the process of establishing an effective ‘family governance’ structure. She will help you hold your family’s wealth in the most tax-efficient and protective way, and put appropriate estate planning documents in place. At the end of this process you will feel calmer and more organised. You can get on with the important stuff now – investing, philanthropy, spending time with loved ones and continuing to grow the family business!

Kasia has worked with many wealthy families to help them achieve their goals, whether it be to pass on wealth now or after death, or put in place a plan that brings more of the family to the decision-making table. This includes being involved with family offices and seeing first-hand what works and what doesn’t work in the context of a family board. She has assisted families comprehensively re-structure the way they hold assets, and has undertaken complex property transactions.

As a business owner or member of a wealthy family, sometimes you end up in a complex legal issue, or even a dispute. The best way out just isn’t obvious. You’re asking yourself “what should I do next?”. Whatever you do, don’t put your head in the sand. The issue isn’t going to go away by itself.

There are solutions and strategies to help you quickly resolve your issue, and get back on with life. Catherine will help you identify your options and guide you through what’s necessary to put the right solution in place. After this process is complete, the path will be clear again.

Catherine is a list maker – she works through problems methodically, so nothing is missed out. As each step of the process is crossed off, you will feel a great weight has been lifted, giving you the breathing space to make plans for the future. Catherine has tackled most things. She has handled property transactions, family law disputes, Will challenges (something she particularly enjoys), probate applications, commercial transactions and employment issues. She is our go-to lawyer when patience and an attention to detail is required. People like working with Catherine. She finds answers for them, and genuinely becomes part of their ‘team’.