About
In my commercial practice I provide general commercial advice in various aspects of business, frequently acting for clients selling or acquiring businesses and also those acquiring (or disposing of) shares/units in companies/trusts (usually involving shareholders’ or unit holders’ agreements) as well as preparing partnership or joint venture agreements.
The mediation services that I provide privately and through a variety of mediation panels comprise a significant proportion of my overall professional practice.
Because of my involvement in the hospitality industry in earlier years I have also developed a niche area specifically catering (pardon the pun) to those engaged in that industry
Philosophy
Understanding the needs of parties, winning their trust and helping to provide practical solutions that meet those needs has led to longstanding relationships with not only clients, but also sources of referral for commercial and mediation matters.
Biography
After graduating at the University of Cape Town, South Africa in 1977, I commenced legal practice and was subsequently admitted as a partner in the same firm. Some years later I completed a Master’s Degree in Commercial Law.
After emigrating to Melbourne in 1989 I was admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria and was employed by a national firm during which time I conducted many large arbitrations and other litigation. I left legal practice in 1992 to establish several retail food businesses and over a period of 14 years successfully owned and operated five such businesses, which I subsequently sold.
After re-entering the legal profession I was engaged as a consultant in a Melbourne legal firm practicing as a commercial lawyer. I left that firm after 4 years and in 2012 set up my own legal and mediation practice.
Having been accredited as a mediator under the National Mediator Accreditation System (NMAS) I was subsequently accredited by the Law Institute of Victoria as a Specialist in Mediation. I now serve on a variety of mediation panels and Law Institute committees and also attract private mediation appointments through various legal firms and the Law Institute of Victoria.
Although a commercial lawyer dealing primarily with transactional matters, I also have a special interest in the hospitality industry and from 2007 to 2014 wrote a monthly column (on legal issues in the hospitality industry) for foodService magazine, a national publication for restaurateurs.
Over the years I have conducted a range of seminars and have also had published in the Law Institute Journal (Vic) two award winning articles on mediation in May 2012 and April 2016 (See Publications tab)